Leigh Whannell, director of The Invisible Man, signed a first-look film and television deal with Blumhouse. The movie received both critical and fan praise, boasting a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics and sitting at an 89% approval rating from audiences. Blumhouse made a name for itself with lower budget horror projects that bring in huge crowds and develop cult followings. The Invisible Man follows a similar path to success with an estimated $7 million budget and a projected opening weekend gross of $26 million.
Whannell's The Invisible Man follows Cecilia (Elisabeth Moss), a woman terrorized by her ex-boyfriend, whom she believes faked his suicide to torture her from beyond the grave. One of its biggest strengths is its ability to take a classic horror tale and use it to make relevant social commentary on issues associated with the #MeToo movement. Whannell also directed 2015's Insidious 3 and Upgrade in 2018, both of which were Blumhouse productions. Upgrade, in particular, got many people buzzing about Leigh Whannell's cinematic talents. Just like The Invisible Man, the film was lauded by critics and fans, with 87% on the Tomatometer from both.
The Wrap reports Whannell will continue his longtime partnership with Blumhouse, agreeing to a film and television deal with the studio. The two-year collaboration will see Whannell write, direct, and produce specific projects. In a statement, Blumhouse CEO Jason Blum commended Whannell's talents, saying the director has the capability to "fundamentally change the landscape" of movies and their genres. Similarly, Whannell had nothing but praise for Blumhouse, calling it "a nurturing place that is willing to take risks on people."
This team-up builds upon the 10-year relationship Blumhouse has already established with Whannell. Although he is relatively new to the director's chair, Whannell previously worked with the studio under many different capacities. He co-created Saw with James Wan and even starred in the film. He later went on to write many of that film's sequels. Whannell also helped write all the Insidious movies as well.
This deal is in line with what Blumhouse has been doing in recent years. The studio likes to grow and foster creators, which it deems as valuable assets to the entertainment industry, particularly when it comes to the horror and thriller genres. James Wan and Jordan Peele are two of the most noticeable results of that philosophy. Whannell seems to be a perfect fit for this deal. He knows and has experience with the Blumhouse model, working on films with limited budgets that have massive box-office returns.
The only real question mark about the news is what the projects will be and what they will look like, especially when it comes to television. Although Blumhouse has dipped its toes into television before, the studio is relatively inexperienced in the field. What type of stories they tell and what network they broadcast on are a few of many questions there are regarding the TV portion of the deal. For now, Whannell and Blumhouse continue their longtime partnership, and The Invisible Man continues to dominate at the box office.
Source: The Wrap
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