Paranormal Activity, the found footage horror franchise created by Oren Peli in 2007, is set to continue—not with another sequel, but on the West End stage in London. A Paranormal Activity spin-off is coming in the form of a play titled Paranormal Activity: A New Story Live on Stage.
Per Variety’s report, the play will premiere on December 5, 2025, at the Ambassadors Theatre. It is set to run for 12 weeks, and won’t follow the plot of the movies, but it’s a new take on the franchise’s supernatural horror theme. It will be directed by Felix Barrett, the co-creator of the immersive theater experience Sleep No More, which ran from 2011 to 2025 in New York City. Per the director’s comment on the new adaptation:
“I’m so thrilled that ‘Paranormal’ will have a chance to ensnare and unnerve audiences in London later this year. From seeing the advertising campaign of the film 20 years ago, where you watched cinema audiences leap out of their chairs in horror, I have long wondered how you could recreate that visceral reaction in a theater setting. How do you bring one of the most frightening films to life? How do you break the inherent safety that a plush West End theater offers? It’s been an incredible challenge, and we cannot wait to see how London audiences respond.”
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A horror play sounds awesome – especially one rooted in Paranormal Activity. As reported by Variety, “the story follows a couple, James and Lou, who move from Chicago to London and discover a haunting presence in their home. So they use a camera to document the unsettling shadow in their midst.” Levi Holloway—known for writing Grey House, which starred Tatiana Maslany—is adapting the stage version. He said the following:
“Collaborating with Felix Barrett to create an actual nightmare has been nothing short of a dream. Relishing in a shared language of dread, we’ve conspired to create something impossible, mixing the familiar with the uncanny, heart with horror. London audiences have a nose for honesty on stage and little patience for anything else. They’ll find it here, right alongside all the mischief we’ve made to trouble their sleep.”
The Impact of ‘Paranormal Activity’ Remains Unmatched
Paramount Pictures
At the turn of the century, Hollywood was saturated with horror remakes. There were original horror movies, but they were scarce. The Blair Witch Project had blown up the industry, but the found footage format was still associated with amateur filmmakers. Enter Oren Peli, who had a great idea and a modest budget.
Peli was inspired by the sounds he heard in his new home when he was living by himself. He got a fancy camera and cast two unknown actors in the roles of Katie and Micah. It is rumored that the film was shot in seven days, but it was enough to make Paranormal Activity. At some point, executives (Steven Spielberg among them) thought the film could be reshot with higher production value, but test screenings showed the success of Peli’s original approach.
The film became a horror phenomenon and one of cinema’s most profitable films. It was successful enough for Peli to reach a deal to produce a sequel, and eventually, oversee an entire horror franchise. Although Paranormal Activity is now taking an unconventional direction with a stage play, it is proof that there’s still some juice in the franchise about the evil spirits tormenting an entire bloodline and those who dare to summon them.
Source: Variety
Release Date
September 14, 2007
Runtime
86 minutes
Writers
Oren Peli
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Mark Fredrichs
The Psychic
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