One of the biggest stories to come out of this weekend’s San Diego Comic Con is that Lionsgate has pulled a fast one, sneaky bastards. Adam Wingard’s The Woods is actually a sequel to Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez’s 1999’s hit The Blair Witch Project. Back in April we reported that another sequel was in the works, but last night news came that the sequel has been here all long, under the title The Woods, and it has a new name, Blair Witch.
I have no idea how they kept this quiet for so long (3 years). But with such a great director and a list of heavy hitters producing, we knew the film was going to big from the start. Adam Wingard has a list of great films on his resume, including You’re Next, The Guest, and V/H/S and V/H/S 2. Blair Witch was penned by Simon Barrett, Wingard’s long time collaborator. Those “heavy hitters” I was referring to, Roy Lee (The Ring, The Grudge, IT), Steven Schneider (Paranormal Activity, Insidious), Jessica Wu (You’re Next, The Guest) and Keith Calder (The Guest, You’re Next). Impressive, right?
The film’s cast includes James Allen McCune (The Walking Dead), Valorie Curry (The Following), Callie Hernandez (Alien: Covenant), Brandon Scott(Grey’s Anatomy), Corbin Reid (Words with Girls), and Wes Robinson (The Genesis Code).
A group of college students venture into the Black Hills Forest in Maryland to uncover the mysteries surrounding the disappearance of James’ sister who many believe is connected to the legend of the Blair Witch. At first the group is hopeful, especially when a pair of locals offer to act as guides through the dark and winding woods, but as the endless night wears on, the group is visited by a menacing presence. Slowly, they begin to realize the legend is all too real and more sinister than they could have imagined.
I know you’re excited, luckily, those of us who were not luck enough to see the premiere at SDCC, we won’t have to wait very long to see Blair Witch. It will open in theaters nationwide on September 16th.
