The Possession remake will be directed by Smile’s Parker Finn, adding up to an attractive package for Paramount as it seeks to add to its stable of horror projects.
Following a bidding war in June, Paramount has snapped up what it hopes will be a sizeable horror hit in the form of Possession. It’s a remake of the cult 1981 psychological horror movie written and directed by Polish filmmaker Andrzej Żuławski.
As well as the remake possessing some of the original’s status, the project also has some serious star power attached to it in the form of Robert Pattinson, and a coveted director in the horror genre too.
Parker Finn is that director, and ever since Smile became one of 2022’s surprise hits, the studio has endeavoured to keep him at Paramount. While the horror genre might not have enjoyed as much success in 2024, it has been perhaps the most reliable in terms of getting audiences into cinemas in recent years, and as such, we’ve seen studios moving quickly to tie successful horror filmmakers down to multi-film deals or first-look agreements.
Finn is no different, having signed a first-look deal following the success of Smile, which grossed $220m worldwide during its theatrical run, all from a production budget of just $17m. The filmmaker next signed up to make Smile 2 for Paramount and is currently in post-production on that one, which is slated to release in October.
As for his Possession remake, the film will in some way follow the plot of the original which was ‘set in West Berlin and starred Sam Neill as a spy who returns home from the field to his wife (Isabella Adjani) and son. All is not quiet on the marital front, as the wife asks for a divorce and the couple descends into a destructive cycle that not only includes infidelity and neglect, but spins into murder, a tentacled alien creature and doppelgangers.’
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Possession wasn’t part of Finn”s first-look deal with the studio, and as such, sparked something of a bidding war with Warner Bros, Sony and Paramount all showing major interest. Not least because the project comes with Robert Pattinson attached. The outlet claims that Possession will be his next project, so perhaps we’ll even see cameras roll later this year.
When we hear more, we’ll let you know.
