Hollywood can finally stop obsessing over Obsession filmmaker Curry Barker‘s next movie.
Universal Film Group, along with Blumhouse Atomic Monster, has landed Barker’s first follow-up since the release of Obsession, the breakout movie of the year.
In closing what is described as a rich eight-figure deal, Barker will write, produce and direct his third film for Blumhouse Atomic Monster and Universal.
The deal keeps Barker in the Universal family, as Obsession was released by Universal label Focus Features. Focus is also behind his already shot second feature, Anything But Ghosts, which he wrote, directed and stars in.
Blumhouse Atomic Monster has been involved with those films, coming aboard Obsession after it bowed at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, and as a production entity on Anything but Ghosts. It is back in a similar capacity for this film.
Also producing are Roy Lee and Steven Schneider’s Spooky Pictures and Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath’s Divide/Conquer, a banner behind horror movies such as The Black Phone and Heart Eyes.
All details for the new project are being kept secret, but it is described as a Barker original horror idea. The project was bought off of a pitch Barker made to Universal’s top brass.
“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,” said NBCUniversal Entertainment chairman Donna Langley in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “Barker’s talent is redefining what’s possible and we’re thrilled to continue our partnership with him.”
Barker’s new feature will be distributed worldwide by Universal Film Group.
Since its May 15 release, Obsession has become a pop culture phenomenon and has driven conversations on topics ranging from the movie business to gender relations. It is the rare movie to have four consecutive weekends bigger than its opening ($17.2 million) and has become Focus Features’ highest-grossing release of all time. Still going strong, it is on track to surpass $300 million worldwide this weekend. A critical and audience sensation, the movie is even starting to generate Oscar buzz. The film was made independently for just $750,000, with Focus buying it out of TIFF.
“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,” Barker stated regarding the new project. “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.”
In a joint statement, Blumhouse Atomic Monster partners James Wan and Jason Blum said, “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.”
Barker is repped by UTA, Underground and Yorn Levine.
