'Saw' Steals Back Director from 'Paranormal' Sequel

Shit just got real. A couple weeks ago, Paramount announced that Paranormal Activity 2 would be in theaters on October 22nd. "Hey wait, isn't that Saw weekend," you ask. Yes. Yes it is. "So they're going straight up against Saw again," you prod. Indeed. And what's more, PA2 signed director Kevin Greutert from Saw VI. "Ooh, snap!" Exactly. Only not. Get this: The Playlist writes that Lionsgate had an option to use Greutert again, and rather than let him go cultivate more money in the Paranormal Activity sequel, the studio is forcing him to direct Saw VII. "Since when did NBC's Jeff Zucker run Lionsgate," you snidely inquire. So here's the set-up, as we understand it: David Hackl, director of Saw V, easily the worst of the franchise, was in line for VII. Now he's out and Greutert will direct the seventh movie in a franchise going nowhere...completely against his will. That movie sounds better and better all the time! As for Paramount, the studio now has to find another filmmaker for Paranormal Activity, although there's plenty of time to locate somebody; I can't imagine a scenario in which the sequel is some big production that will take months to shoot. Plus, I think we both know there are plenty of bad horror movie directors in Hollywood. So let me ask you, is this a dick move by Lionsgate or just business? Or is there any difference between the two?

Comments

[Vince]

You know what Paramount should do? They should NOT make a Paranormal sequel.

I feel bad for the Kevin guy, since I'm sure he thought that he'd hit the big time & would be free to do something else entirely. Granted, a sequel to a horror film is not necessarily the greatest opportunity in the world, but working on Paranormal 2 is still a step up, I'm sure.

[SEAN]

It is a dick move by Lionsgate & I respect Lionsgate but this is a dick move, making him do it against his will...come on

But everything in the industry has contracts so I guess it's his own doing, but being pushed into a corner is not cool

[Joel Murphy]

I understand Lionsgate's desire to keep the guy from making a film that will directly compete with the next Saw movie.

However, as you pointed out, forcing a guy to make a movie he doesn't want to do is not going to produce good results. I think everyone loses in this scenario.

[Jeremy]

The behind the scenes shinannigans going on sound like the plot to one of the Saw movies. You have the director of Vi locked in a room w/ all the props & they won't let him out until he makes the perfect Saw sequel. Hell, the new Saw may turn out to be the realistic one of the two (between PA & Saw).