While The Blair Witch Project did spawn a franchise following its successful theatrical release in 1999, the follow-ups never quite captured the same atmosphere or momentum that made the original a worldwide sensation. Fortunately, a major positive update has been given regarding The Blair Witch Project and its future from one of the original movie’s stars.
The cast behind The Blair Witch Project were instrumental for the original film’s success, though they were never properly compensated or included with the franchise’s future. It looks like this could change, as original star Michael C. Williams has discussed some exciting developments with the franchise under Blumhouse and Lionsgate.
As shared below via Instagram, Williams chose this month – which marks the 26th anniversary of the original film – to share the good news. As fans know, Williams and his co-stars Heather Donahue and Joshua Leonard, have struggled to make themselves heard by the studios involved with the franchise. It seems that finally happened:
“In a world where it increasingly seems as though no one listens to one another any longer, I’m beyond grateful to report that Lionsgate and Jason Blum/Blumhouse actually did listen. While I won’t get into the details, I can say that after 26 years, I finally feel like a valued contributor to the world of The Blair Witch Project (though, in fairness, you fans have always made me feel that way!) and I truly appreciate these folks hearing us out and coming to the table. They proved to be thoughtful and responsive to our concerns and it is important to me to acknowledge this with public gratitude and appreciation towards them.”
Regarding the franchise’s future, details were scarce, but it sounds like things are moving forward and Williams seems to be involved:
“I am excited for what’s to come next in the Blair Witch universe. I’ve found the map and we’re definitely moving forward.”
Here’s the complete statement featuring his update on the Blair Witch franchise:
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Hopefully we’ll have more details soon. Fans of The Blair Witch Project have been eager to see whether or not Hollywood can recreate the magic of the original film, and similarly they’ve hoped the original cast could be part of it, so perhaps we’ll finally get that opportunity. As always, stay tuned to ScreenGeek for more updates as we have them.