Original The Blair Witch Project star Joshua Leonard isn’t completely satisfied that the studios are profiting off of the 1999 indie blockbuster.
The Blair Witch Project was a film that ought to have been left alone. But such insanely profitable movies not often are, with the ultra-indie film happening to spawn every thing from inevitable sequels to tie-in comedian books to, sure, video video games. Add to that now a “reimagining” courtesy of Blumhouse, which hasn’t precisely been a effectively acquired concept from followers – or stars – of the 1999 horror blockbuster.
Joshua Leonard – one of many three stars of The Blair Witch Project, together with Heather Donahue and Michael Williams – is now talking out towards the deliberate film (a Lionsgate co-production), significantly because it pertains to how the unique solid is handled. Linking to a chunk in Variety concerning the Blumhouse enterprise, Leonard wrote, partially: “The WEIRD PART [about his likeness being used in the press] is that I didn’t know anything about it until a friend sent me a ‘congrats’ screenshot yesterday. My frustration is compounded b/c I’ve been trying to get @lionsgate to engage for over a month about a BWP charity screening I’m putting together for @opositivefest to raise money for artists without healthcare, and NO ONE will get back to me.” He added that “it’s 25 years of disrespect from the folks who’ve pocketed the lion’s share (pun intended) of the profits from OUR work, and that feels both icky and classless.”
It must be famous that Leonard has subsequently heard again from Lionsgate because the ordeal began gaining traction, however the actor is just not able to go down with out making his level. Prior to this, Leonard would go on to rattle off a number of examples of how the studio has ensured that he and his co-stars usually are not being financially compensated for The Blair Witch Project, which had an authentic finances of not more than $60,000 however would soak up practically $250 million worldwide, making it one of the worthwhile movies ever. Still, he doesn’t suppose that even when he needed to pursue authorized motion that he would stand an opportunity. At the identical time, Leonard additionally maintains that his place isn’t about cash however moderately “human decency”, saying extra respect must be given to “the craftspeople off who’s backs corporations make their profits.”
As this new Blair Witch film strikes ahead from Blumhouse and Lionsgate, they could discover Leonard constructing assist for his case, one thing we’re already seeing. And going off of his phrases, he may have a case right here in his try to not solely arise for the unique The Blair Witch Project solid – who has had earlier authorized battles relating to how their likenesses had been utilized in subsequent films – however some other creatives who’ve discovered themselves in such a scenario.
What do you make of Joshua Leonard’s assertion concerning the forthcoming The Blair Witch Project film? What duties do the studios maintain by way of compensation?