Curry Barker has secured an eight-figure deal with Universal Film Group and Blumhouse Atomic Monster as his breakout horror film Obsession approaches $300 million at the global box office. The filmmaker will write, direct and produce a new original horror project under the agreement, marking his first feature deal since the release of Obsession, which has become one of the year's biggest cinema success stories.
New Horror Project Details
Details about the new film remain under wraps, although it has been described as an original horror concept created by Barker. The project was acquired following a pitch presented to Universal executives. The agreement keeps Barker within the Universal family. Obsession was released through Focus Features, a Universal label, while his second feature, Anything But Ghosts, has already been completed and is also backed by Focus Features.
Production Partners
Blumhouse Atomic Monster has been involved with both projects and will return as a production partner on the new film. Additional producers on the upcoming project include Roy Lee and Steven Schneider of Spooky Pictures, alongside Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath of Divide/Conquer.
Box Office Performance
The announcement comes as Obsession continues its strong theatrical run. Since opening on May 15, the horror film has exceeded expectations at the box office and is on course to surpass $300 million worldwide. The independently produced film was reportedly made for $750,000 before being acquired by Focus Features following its screening at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Industry Praise
Donna Langley, chairman of NBCUniversal Entertainment, praised Barker's success in a statement. "Curry Barker has an exceptional ability to tap into the cultural zeitgeist, pairing an innate instinct for what resonates with audiences with extraordinary filmmaking prowess," she said.
Barker's Excitement
Barker said he was excited to continue working with Universal and Blumhouse Atomic Monster. "This film is something I've been excited to make for a while, and I'm thrilled to be reteaming with Blumhouse Atomic Monster and Universal Film Group for it," he said. The new project will be distributed worldwide by Universal Film Group.
