Original ‘Blair Witch’ team criticizes reboot producers: ‘Disrespect’

A new version of Blair Witch is being prepared, as announced during the Lionsgate panel at CinemaCon, last week. The 1999 classic has already received two sequels in 2000 and 2016. The team involved in the original production, however, was not very happy with the news.

Ben Rock, the original production designer, stated that no one who was in the 1999 film will be in the upcoming feature film. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter (via NME), he stated that learning about the reboot was “bittersweet”.

“I truly believe that what happened twice now was that the original creators were ignored, and other people were brought in,” he said. Rock. “They were all good, but neither of the two sequels connected with audiences the way they wanted. So, at the very least, it might be worth talking to some of the original creators.”

Joshua Leonardwho starred in the film alongside Heather Donahue It is Michael C. Williamsalso expressed on Instagram: “I’m so proud of our little punk-rock movie, and I LOVE the fans who keep the flames burning.”

“But at this point, it’s 25 years of disrespect on the part of the people who pocketed most of the profits from OUR work, and it seems both distasteful and classless.”

The co-producer Mike Monello posted in a similar tone on Twitter, also tagging Blumhouse and Lionsgate, producers behind the new project: “Radical idea: You could try to put this project in the hands of the original team that made the first one. You know, the team that actually has an entire franchise designed to reinvent what a movie could be Blair Witch?

Radical idea: You could try putting this project in the hands of the original team that made the first one. You know, the team that actually has an entire franchise plan to reinvent what a “Blair Witch” movie could be? @jason_blum@Lionsgate@blumhousehttps://t.co/V7GLk2ZUzv

— Mike Monello (@mikemonello) April 10, 2024