Seventeen years after inspiring thousands of found footage copycats, and just as many lame parodies, The Blair Witch Project is getting a sequel. (I’m pretending Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 never happened, just like the world did in 2000.) Directed by Adam Wingard from a script by Simon Barrett, the upcoming Blair Witch takes place years after the original, and follows James (James Allen McCune), the brother of one of the characters from the original film, and a new group of college-aged idiots as they venture into Maryland’s Black Hills. Creepy hijinks presumably ensue.
The Blair Witch Project co-director Eduardo Sánchez has nothing to do with Blair Witch, but he is interested in re-releasing the 1999 film with hours of extra footage. “In a couple of weeks, I could probably take the original movie and edit a longer version,” he told the Found Footage Files podcast. “I know the fans are like, everybody wants to see it… It would be cool to do, honestly. I wouldn’t hesitate to do that if Lionsgate Films hired me. I think it would be a lot of fun.” Lionsgate owns the rights to The Blair Witch Project, though, which means Sánchez’s wish is unlikely to come true. Also, it’s a terrible idea.
One of the reasons why the film (which made $248 million on a $60,000 budget) was such a sensation that still holds up today (IMHO) is the length: It’s only 81 minutes long. There’s no need to have Heather, Michael, and Joshua wander around the woods for 20 more minutes, or show the witch. That would be overkill, and you’d probably want someone, anyone, killed, even if it was our ostensible “heroes.” Plus, we’re good with the snot.
(Via ScreenCrush)
