Lionsgate has set a release date for its long-in-development return to the “Blair Witch” franchise, slotting the film for Sept. 24, 2027, according to Variety.
The studio revealed the date through a cryptic video posted to social media, with the announcement coming through a joint Lionsgate and Atomic Monster Instagram post. Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson has previously described the project as a “new vision” intended to “reintroduce this horror classic for a new generation.”
YouTube horror filmmaker Dylan Clark will direct from a script by Chris Thomas Devlin, which Mr. Clark is rewriting. Mr. Clark is also attached to direct a feature adaptation of his acclaimed short film “Portrait of God” for Universal, with Sam Raimi and Jordan Peele producing.
Blumhouse’s Jason Blum and Atomic Monster’s James Wan will produce alongside Roy Lee, Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath. Executive producers include original 1999 film directors Eduardo Sanchez, Daniel Myrick and producer Gregg Hale, as well as original cast members Joshua Leonard and Michael C. Williams. The involvement of the original team marks a significant shift: In 2024, Mr. Leonard publicly criticized Lionsgate over what he described as longstanding disputes over compensation and consultation involving the original cast and creators. Mr. Williams has since said the new film is not a remake. Michael Clear, Judson Scott and Steven Schneider will also serve as executive producers.
“The Blair Witch Project,” released in July 1999, used found footage to tell the fictional story of three student filmmakers who vanish in the woods of Maryland while documenting a local legend. Shot on a micro budget, the film grossed nearly $250 million globally and is widely credited with popularizing the found-footage horror genre. It spawned two follow-ups — “Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2” in 2000 and “Blair Witch” in 2016 — neither of which matched the original’s commercial or critical reception.
The new film marks the fourth installment in the franchise and is part of a broader multi-picture agreement between Lionsgate and Blumhouse to reimagine Lionsgate horror properties.
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