Reports suggest Lionsgate is powering ahead with a new instalment in their flagship Blair Witch franchise after announcing their interest in rebooting it just last month.
Initial details suggest that British filmmaker Oliver Park has been hired to direct the film, currently working under the name “Untitled Blair Witch Sequel. Park’s previous horror efforts include 2023’s The Offering and 2016’s Vicious.
Furthermore, what little information we have hints that The Blair Witch Project creators Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez will be returning to produce the film. Currently it seems Lionsgate are looking towards a late summer or early fall shoot for a 2024 release. However, there is no word on a writer or a script, and these plans may be upended due to the current WGA strike.
If everything comes to fruition, this will be the first attempt at a Blair Witch sequel in 8 years, following the relative failure of Adam Wingard’s 2016 requel Blair Witch. Box-office expectations were high, but the film only managed a lifetime gross of $40 million, with a disappointing opening weekend of just $9.7 million.
Similarly, 2000’s sequel Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 polarised fans and critics with its tonal shift and dark themes. Whilst not languishing as much as 2016’s offering, the film too struggled at the box-office.
So, will this new offering break the Blair Witch sequel curse? We will report any further details as they come in.
