The original actors of the 1999 hit horror film The Blair Witch Project they are unhappy with how Lionsgate has treated them over the years and how the studio has continued to profit from the franchise they launched.
Heather Donahue, Joshua LeonardoAND Michael Williams they released a public statement calling for more compensation and recognition for their work on the original film. They are also calling for “meaningful consultation” on any future Blair witch films made using their names or likenesses.
This comes after it was announced that Blumhouse was teaming up with Lionsgate for a Blair Witch reboot. They are looking to revive the franchise, which has been described as a “new vision for Blair Witch that will reintroduce this horror classic for a new generation.”
It looks like this will be a new beginning for the franchise, a film that won’t connect to the original or the original stars, so I’m not sure what, if anything, the actors will gain from this.
Lionsgate did not produce or distribute the original film. They acquired it in 2003 through the acquisition of Artisan Entertainment in 2003.
After the reboot was announced, Leonard responded frustratingly on social media, saying, “At this point, there’s 25 years of disrespect from the people who have pocketed the lion’s share (pun intended) of the profits of OUR work, and it seems disgusting and classless.
The actors improvised while filming the original, low-budget film and used their real names for the characters they played.
The actors each earned $300,000 from purchasing points on the film, which grossed $248 million worldwide.
The actors ended up suing Artisan Entertainment for using their names and likenesses in the studio’s 2000 sequel, Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2which was an inferior film that didn’t do well at the box office.
You can read full statements from the original actors, director and original producers below.
The full statements read:
OUR LIONSGATE REQUESTS (from Heather, Michael and Josh, stars of “The Blair Witch Project”):
1. Retroactive + future residual payments to Heather, Michael, and Josh for acting services rendered in the original BWP, equivalent to the amount that would have been awarded through SAG-AFTRA, had we had adequate legal or union representation at the time of making the movie .
2. Meaningful consultation on any future Blair Witch reboot, sequel, prequel, toy, game, ride, escape room, etc., in which the names and/or likenesses of Heather, Michael, and Josh could reasonably be expected to be associated for promotional purposes in the public sphere.
Note: Our film has been rebooted twice, both times being a disappointment from a fan, box office and critical perspective. None of these films were made with significant creative input from the original team.
As the insiders who created Blair Witch and have listened to what fans love and want for 25 years, we are your greatest, but so far untapped, secret weapon!
3. “The Blair Witch Grant”: A grant of 60,000 (the budget of our original film), paid annually by Lionsgate, to an unknown/aspiring genre director to help them make their first feature film. This is a GRANT, not a development fund, so Lionsgate will not own any of the underlying rights to the project.
A PUBLIC STATEMENT FROM THE DIRECTORS AND PRODUCERS OF “THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT”:
As we approach the 25th anniversary of The Blair Witch Project, our pride in the story world we created and the film we produced is reaffirmed by the recent announcement of a reboot from horror icons Jason Blum and James Wan.
While we, the original filmmakers, respect Lionsgate’s right to monetize the intellectual property as it sees fit, we must highlight the significant contributions of the original cast: Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Mike Williams.
As the literal faces of what has become a franchise, their likenesses, voices, and real names are inseparably linked to The Blair Witch Project. Their unique contribution not only defined the film’s authenticity, but continues to resonate with audiences around the world.
We celebrate the legacy of our film and, equally, believe that the actors deserve to be celebrated for their lasting association with the franchise.
Kind regards, Eduardo Sanchez, Dan Myrick, Gregg Hale, Robin Cowie, and Michael Monello
by Joey Paur
Source: Geek Tyrant
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
