In what has to quite possibly be one of the oddest twists in film history, Oren Peli's horror chiller Paranormal Activity (review here) has been picked up by Dreamworks for distribution, but that's not all ...
The LA Times reports that they've also signed Peli to direct a bigger budget remake!
From the article:
"The studio made the deal following Paranormal Activity's screenings at the Slamdance Film Festival in Utah. Another company, IM Global, will broker the release of Peli's original film overseas. 'It's the best of both worlds,' said Jason Blum, who shepherded the film through Slamdance and will produce the remake. 'We get to see how the original will do, and we get to remake it ourselves.'
Peli's low-budget original movie will be released on DVD along with the remake after the remake is released theatrically. There is no planned schedule for the remake's production and no new script yet.
'It's definitely very exciting -- I am still digesting it,' Peli said Wednesday. 'Now we can try to do some things that were not possible before.'"
Congratulations, Oren! There are good things coming! Stay tuned.
Cause some activity in our Dread Central forums!
Submitted by Uncle Creepy on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 12:22am.
When you´re short of cash, your creativity must increase, and i think that´s the way the big horror movies was made: with a lot of heart and great ideas, instead a big budget. I think is not a good idea to do a remake of this movie, if the original is so great. I think they must invest in advertising for this one. Don´t get me wrong, i think this film deserves anything good that happen to it, but i´m kind of sad, because i´m from Mexico, and i guess i have to wait like a year for this to arrive to DVD...
Submitted by El Regio Dude on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 1:28pm.
Good on Oren, but this still means that we'll have to wait even longer to see either movie released nationally.
But either way, congratulations go out to Mr. Peli.
Submitted by Chainsaw on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 12:31pm.
To repeat: Every indie filmmaker I've ever talked to has insisted that if given the opportunity to improve or expand their film with a bigger budget, they would. Oren has that opportunity now, and I'm rooting for him all the way.
CONGRATS, OREN!!
Submitted by Terminal on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 5:05am.
Yeah but the remake won't come out fro like another year. Oh well, i really hope it's scary. i just watched [REC] and that didn't scare me. I really want a movie to truly scare me.
Submitted by joey1242 on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 3:23am.
Too bad. The original is good enough for theaters.
Submitted by Sirand on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 2:48am.
You will. That's part of the deal. The original hits DVD around the time the remake comes out.
And it's still scheduled to play a few fests. Keep your eyes open.
Submitted by Uncle Creepy on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 2:40am.
ok well im really excited to see it. I just hope one day i have a chance to catch the original.
Submitted by joey1242 on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 2:30am.
I wouldn't worry about that Joey. The original will always be there, and knowing what Oren did with NOTHING at all, I can't wait to see what he could do with something.
Submitted by Uncle Creepy on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 2:20am.
aww man, i really wanted to see 'the scariest film of the year' what if the remake isn't as scarY? Now i have to wait like another year!
Submitted by joey1242 on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 1:57am.
I've spoken to Oren. No worries, it's still his baby. The main difference will be that he can now do things he really wanted to do but just couldn't make happen.
Submitted by Uncle Creepy on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 1:25am.
I guess this is good news, but I would kind of like to see the original first. I am a bit of a cynic and am afraid that if they screw up the remake then I may be turned off of the original.
Submitted by conundrum on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 1:06am.
If Oren gets to keep plenty of creative control and can hire another pair of great, believable unknowns then I've got no fear about the remake.
Submitted by Kryten Syxx on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 1:02am.
As long as it's in Oren's hands I'm confident we'll get something solid.
I'm just fucking stunned!
Submitted by Uncle Creepy on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 12:52am.
Awesome news! This is movie is this year's sleeper hit...
The remake thing is very weird though.
Submitted by Sirand on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 12:40am.
Go Oren!
Submitted by Kryten Syxx on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 12:33am.