Paramount Delays Paranormal Activity & Friday The 13th Sequels, Brings Forward Rings

Well, we can’t honestly say we didn’t see this coming. The next chapters in Paramount’s mega-horror franchises ‘Paranormal Activity’ and ‘Friday the 13th’ - both of which were listed among our most anticipated horror films of 2015 - will not hit screens as originally scheduled.

Deadline report that both films are being given more than six months extra to get screen-ready, with ‘Paranormal Activity: the Ghost Dimension’ moving from 13 March to 23 October, and the as-yet untitled ‘Friday the 13th’ movie moving from 13 November to 13 May 2016.

Still, some may deem this a good news/bad news scenario, as ‘Friday’s vacated 13 November slot will now be filled instead by ‘Rings,’ a revival of ‘The Ring’ franchise.

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In case you’re wondering why we’re not surprised by these developments, it’s because all signs had seemed to indicate that neither of the delayed films were progressing fast enough to meet their scheduled dates.

'Paranormal Activity: the Ghost Dimension' was only reported to have started production in late November 2014 - and given that it is reported to also be at least partially in 3D, which inevitably means a slightly longer post-production period, it seemed unlikely they’d be ready by March.

As for ‘Friday the 13th’ - well, fans of that franchise have been scratching their heads wondering what the hold-up is for almost six years now, as a follow-up to 2009’s commercially successful (though critically divisive) reboot was initially expected to go into production almost immediately.

However, the sequel did not get the green light right away (at least partly due to a complicated rights situation, the franchise being co-owned by Warner Bros at the time), and it subsequently appears to have been the subject of some consternation for production house Platinum Dunes, who seem uncertain what direction to take the series next.

A found footage approach was rumoured, much to the displeasure of many fans - and more recently reports claimed they were contemplating using a 1980s setting for the next film, rather than attempt another modern day reboot.

While a director is attached in David Bruckner, the one constant would seem to be the lack of a script. Earlier this very month, producer Brad Fuller admitted the script still wasn’t ready.

Even so, we must admit to having heard even less on the subject of ‘Rings,’ other than that F. Javier Gutierrez vacated the reboot of ‘The Crow’ to direct what will be the third film in the series based on the Japanese ‘Ringu’ franchise. Whether it will be an original story or based on one of the existing ‘Ringu’ films, we don’t currently know.

A sequel to ‘World War Z’ is also in the works at Paramount. A follow-up to ‘Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters’ was also said to be in the works, although all signs seem to indicate that one may be dead in the water.

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Picture Credit: Paramount, Warner Bros