Movies
Update: Akiva Goldsman to Executive Produce ‘Paranormal Activity 2’
It was reported last February over at the LA Times that Akiva Goldsman, best known as the writer of the two worst Batman movies (the Schumacher ones, with Bat-nipples), was being seriously considered to take over the director’s chair for Paranormal Activity 2. Deadline Hollywood reported today that Goldsman became executive producer and is helping to flesh out the sequel story with the producing team of Oren Peli (the first film’s director), Jason Blum and Steven Schneider. The sequel to Oren Peli’s surprise smash was originally set to be directed by Saw VI‘s Kevin Greutert, until Twisted/Lionsgate decided it made more sense to force him to helm THEIR sequel instead of letting him do what he wanted and simply hiring any of the hundreds of capable genre directors who would love the opportunity to helm a high profile film (in 3D no less). Goldsman was the latest name thrown into the pile, which includes everyone from Brad Anderson (Session 9) to Brian De Palma (duh). Who do you guys think is a good choice?
Theo James Krekis‘ short film Jealous People are Ugly People premiered earlier this year at SXSW and has since inspired a massive bidding war for its feature film expansion.
New Line Cinema has emerged victorious in the latest feeding frenzy over next-generation digital horror IP and its creators, Deadline reports.
Krekis will adapt Jealous People are Ugly People, directing from his own script.
In the short film, “Vasilly has become painfully jealous of his best friend, Luke. But things aren’t going so well for Luke. Every time he shares some good news, he starts to suffer from strange and violent repercussions. Disturbed by the uncanny timing, Vasilly recalls his Yiayia’s warnings about the Greek superstition of the evil eye – and starts to believe his own envy might be to blame for Luke’s bad luck.”
SXSW described the short film as ” a darkly comic psychological thriller about male jealousy, inherited superstition, and the corrosive power of repressed ambition.”
Jennifer Monks and Michelle Stein will produce the feature take alongside Isaac Klausner, John Fischer, Ben Levine and Ethan Cappello. Josh Mack and Lauren Botchan are overseeing for New Line.
Jealous People are Ugly People joins New Line’s upcoming horror slate that also includes Santiago Menghini’s The Revenge of La Llorona on February 26, 2027, and The Conjuring: First Communion on September 10, 2027.