It was only around a week ago that Curry Barker, the director of Milk & Serial (you can watch that one for free on YouTube), Obsession, and the currently-in-post-production Anything but Ghosts, was telling The Hollywood Reporter that he wasn’t sure what he wanted to make next. He said, “The big conversation is: Do I want to do an IP movie? Or do I want to do my original? I have an idea for my original, but I have so many ideas for Texas Chainsaw Massacre as well. I have a lot to weigh and that’s where the stress really comes from. I don’t know what to do next.“ Well, now it looks like he has decided, and his Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie is going to have to wait. The Hollywood Reporter has broken the news that Barker’s next film is an original that he’ll be making for Blumhouse, Atomic Monster, and Universal.
Closing what is described as “a rich eight-figure deal,” Barker will write, produce, and direct the film. As THR notes, this deal keeps Barker in the Universal family, as Obsession was released by Universal label Focus Features, and Focus is also behind Anything but Ghosts.
This is also an extension of his working relationship with Blumhouse Atomic Monster, which came on board Obsession after its festival premiere and serves as a production entity on Anything but Ghosts.
What do we know about Curry Barker’s new film?
Details are being kept under wraps, but Barker provided the following statement: “This film is something I’ve been excited to make for a while, and I’m thrilled to be reteaming with Blumhouse Atomic Monster and Universal Film Group for it. They’ve built the kind of home for bold, original storytelling that every filmmaker dreams of, and I couldn’t imagine better collaborators for this film.“
NBCUniversal Entertainment chairman Donna Langley added, “Curry Barker has an exceptional ability to tap into the cultural zeitgeist, pairing an innate instinct for what resonates with audiences with extraordinary filmmaking prowess. Barker’s talent is redefining what’s possible and we’re thrilled to continue our partnership with him.“
And Blumhouse Atomic Monster’s Jason Blum and James Wan had this to say: “With Obsession, Curry did what only a handful of filmmakers manage in a generation: he made something wholly original that connected with a massive audience, and that connection is what we care about most. The best filmmakers can work anywhere, and we are proud to have a growing slate with Curry. Getting to put this project in front of the fans his work speaks to is the whole reason we do this.“
What do you think of Curry Barker choosing to work on an original project at Blumhouse, Atomic Monster, and Universal before the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie he has been hired to make? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.
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