Horror Icons Unite: James Wan and Jason Blum Team Up to Resurrect Paranormal Activity for Theaters!

Ricky Giamatti
Dec 23, 2025
2 min read

Get ready to check your closets and mount those night vision cameras, because the found-footage phenomenon that defined a generation of horror is officially back. And this time, it’s got the ultimate dream team behind it.

Paramount Pictures, Blumhouse, and James Wan’s Atomic Monster have officially partnered to produce a brand new installment in the $900 million Paranormal Activity franchise. Forget those quiet, straight-to-streaming attempts—this is a priority theatrical project, meaning the shaky camera is finally returning to the biggest, darkest screen possible.

The Megamerger Pays Off

This isn't just a routine sequel; it's the first major signal of what the recent merger between Jason Blum’s Blumhouse and James Wan’s Atomic Monster means for the future of horror. We are talking about the two most influential architects of modern mainstream terror—the men who gave us Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring, M3GAN, and the original Paranormal Activity—now working side-by-side to save a flagging franchise.

Wan, the master of cinematic terror, will produce the film alongside Blum and, crucially, Oren Peli, the visionary director who started it all with a micro-budget masterpiece back in 2007. This triumvirate of terror promises not just a new chapter, but a genuine "rebirth" and "next evolution" for the series, according to a statement from Wan himself.

Jason Blum said it best: "Diving in with James for this exciting rebirth of the franchise that started it all for Blumhouse is exactly what we dreamed of when we merged with Atomic Monster... one thing will remain the same—do not see it alone."

Back to Basics, But Bigger

After 2021's streaming-only Next of Kin faded with little fanfare, this move is a clear attempt to restore the franchise's terrifying prestige. What can we expect?

A True Found-Footage Revival: With the original creator (Peli) and Wan, who knows how to build supernatural lore better than anyone, on board, the focus is likely going back to the claustrophobic, subtle, and genuinely scary terror that made the original a cultural touchstone.
Theatrical Event Status: Making this a priority theatrical release signals that Paramount has major confidence in the project's ability to be a box-office event again. It’s a return to the communal jump-scare experience that horror fans crave.
Bigger Budget, Same Scares: Blum hinted that they would be spending "a little more" than the original's legendary $15,000 budget. This suggests they can deliver better production value while hopefully retaining the minimalist tension that made the franchise great, rather than resorting to the over-the-top CG that plagued later installments.

Details regarding the plot, casting, writer, or director are locked down tighter than Katie’s house in the first movie, but the mere announcement that the masters of horror are collaborating on a theatrical "rebirth" is the biggest news the franchise has had in years. It’s time for the cameras to roll again.