This has not been what you’d call a terrible weekend for Leigh Whannell. Shortly after the filmmaker’sThe Invisible Mannabbed a $29 million opening weekend on a $7 million budget, Whannell signed an overall deal with Blumhouse for film and television. The two-year first-look deal will reportedly cover projects Whannell will write, direct, and/or produce.
Here’s what Whannell had to say in a statement:
“Ten years ago, I walked into Jason Blum’s office thinking that I was having a general meeting with a producer who liked horror movies,” he said. “Little did I know that a decade long partnership and friendship was about to begin. I have since watched his then-infant company, Blumhouse, grow into a powerhouse of genre films; a nurturing place that is willing to take risks on people. Indeed, they have taken plenty of risks on me and I look forward to taking many more with them as they continue to grow in the world of film and television.”
The Invisible Manmarked the seventh collaboration between Whannell and Blumhouse, a history that includes fourInsidiousfilms and the vastly underratedUpgrade. So what does the future hold? A recentBloomberginterview with Blumhouse head honcho Jason Blum suggests more Universal Monster flicks could be on the horizon. (You may recall 2017’sThe Mummyas a failed attempt to launch a new Universal “Dark Universe”, but reaction to the Blumhouse-backedThe Invisible Manhas been far more favorable.)
IfThe Invisible Mansucceeds, would you want to make another monster movie?
I would love to.
Have you thought about what that might be?
I’ve had some version of this conversation. Not a serious one. I would say to Universal, “What monsters are available that I could play around with?” I would send those things to our seven favorite filmmakers. But I’m not going to talk to Universal untilThe Invisible Mancomes out.
For more onThe Invisible Man, here is ourfull reviewand a look at how Whannellcrafted the perfect modern-day monster tale.
