'Paranormal Activity 2' gets ready with 'Saw VI' director

By Ace Fernandez and Borys Kit

Something’s moving in the “Paranormal Activity 2” house.

Paramount has hired screenwriter Michael R. Perry and director Kevin Greutert to create the sequel to 2009’s biggest surprise hit, “Paranormal Activity,” which scared up $151 million in worldwide grosses in the fall on a shoestring $15,000 budget and a shrewd, opt-in Web marketing campaign.

Significantly, Paramount will unleash it in theaters on the pre-Halloween weekend of October 22, which sets it against that date’s reigning champion in previous years, the next installment in Lionsgate’s “Saw” series (this year would be “VII”). In a symbolic twist, Greutert made his directorial debut on the sixth “Saw” film, which grossed just $64.8 million worldwide, with observers thinking that the franchise may be bleeding dry.

Jason Blum and Oren Peli, who masterminded the first “Activity,” are producing the second iteration. Steven Schneider will serve as executive producer.

“These guys get it, and the fans won’t be disappointed,” said Peli of Perry and Greutert’s participation.

Unsurprisingly, the filmmakers are keeping the story line — as well as the film’s actual title — hidden in the attic.

Last month, as “Activity” was spooking the boxoffice, Paramount Film Group president Adam Goodman launched an initiative to spend $1 million a year to make 10-20 similarly micro-budgeted films each costing less than $100,000. The studio is also releasing Peli’s follow-up, “Area 51,” now in post-production.

“Activity’s” closest analog is “The Blair Witch Project,” another no-budget creeper that eventually grossed an astounding $240 million worldwide in 1999. That film, as well, engaged a verite conceit and a minimal, unknown cast to spooky effect.

Production company Artisan Entertainment tried to capture lightning a second time by quickly producing a sequel with a bigger, if still low, budget. But “Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2,” released the following Halloween, grossed a mere $26 million.

Perry, who is repped by UTA and Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment, is a longtime TV writer-producer (“Millennium,” “The Guardian”) whose spec feature script, “The Voices,” landed in the third slot on the 2009 Black List. “Voices” is now set up with Doug Davison and Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment (“Quarantine,” “The Uninvited”).

The Paradigm-repped Greutert was the editor of the first five films in the half-billion-dollar-grossing “Saw” series and went on to direct last year’s sixth installment.

Comments

[buy cartes memoire]

This seemed to be the case for me late last night. Everyone seemed to be headed into Paranormal Activity instead of Saw VI. I went to see Saw VI because I'd seen Paranormal Activity,two weeks ago (thought it was good- not totally awesome but good). BTW, Saw VI better than Saw V.

[John]

Adam Goodman is a very smart president. His decision to put up a 1 million dollar fund to make 10 micro budget films is smart. I mean if none of them work, Paramount wouldnt lose any money at all.

[Mr_K]

"Paranormal Activity" was good when you factor in what the budget was, but I felt it was fairly predictable and not very scary. However, I did see it after the hype and I've seen a lot of horror movies before.

[Devin]

zzzzzZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz

['Sploitation]

Paranormal activity was okay, i didn't love it but i was impressed with how it came out, now i'm just dissapointed. sequels to these type of "found footage" films just.. don't work (i'm talking blair witch 2, which ultimatly destroyed the story.. anyone remember seeing commercials for Blair Witch 3? i did. didn't come out). not to mention the fact that i stopped watching SAW after third, their just beating a dead horse at this point.

[Cribbster]

I'm not sure this million dollar movie plan is a smart one. I think the better strategy is to ensure that when something low-budget and hot like "Paranormal Activity" comes around, your studio is the place where those filmmakers come. I'm not sure a studio could create these low-budget blockbusters at will. The success of "Paranormal Activity" was a miracle. You don't easily mass-produce miracles.

[Jim Jones]

I'm not sure which news is worse, that they're making a Paranormal Activity 2, or that it will be directed by one of the hacks behind the Saw franchise. On the bright side, one can avoid both franchises by skipping a single flick.

[ugg boots]

Your writing is very elegant, very vivid and lively, I really like you, wish you continued to write better articles, I will often try to concern, oh!

[Baby Registry]

I like watching the first film. I bet the sequel would just as great or even better.

[Boracay Island Hotel]

I got goosebumps after watching this movie it really scared the wits out of me.

[linaskye]

Paranormal Activity scared the bejesus out of me. I would like to think that a sequel would be just as scary, but after finding out that a Saw franchise director is going to be helming the project, I'm SO waiting for video rental.

[cesar]

do you guys know if this movie is based on truev events?

[George K]

I just watched "Activity" on a business trip......Holy Shit! Scared the crap outta me!

[Karen Harris]

I could not sleep last night after seeing this movie. It looked so real to me, so so real. When he pulled her out of the bed and drug her down the hall. Oh my Oh my

[Ghostlover65]

Saw VI director to do the sequel to Paranormal Activity? Why? If I wanted my face shoved in graphic blood and guts, I'll go see a Greutert directed film. I want a true artist of horror, one where those things that go bump in a dark and stormy night is up to me to imagine it's nightmarish features. Orin, you have created the best horror film I have ever seen. I've slept with the lights on ever since(and threw out my talcum powder). Direct the sequel! Don't leave horror to the knife yeilding, hocky masked, long finger nailed director of Saw VI!

[Paranormal activity]

"Paranormal activity" is OK type movie. This movie with real story. I liked it very much. It has scared me and i am not able to sleep whole night.

[Digital Camcorders]

Thumbs up for the movie and kudos to the cast.

[tiffany co]

I mean if none of them work, Paramount wouldnt lose any money at all.

[Administration Jobs]

Saw the movie and it really scared me, that night I slept with the lights on.