Authentic The Blair Witch Undertaking star Joshua Leonard isn’t comfortable that the studios are profiting off of the 1999 indie blockbuster.
The Blair Witch Undertaking was a film that ought to have been left alone. However such insanely profitable movies not often are, with the ultra-indie film occurring to spawn every thing from inevitable sequels to tie-in comedian books to, sure, video video games. Add to that now a “reimagining” courtesy of Blumhouse, which hasn’t precisely been a nicely acquired concept from followers – or stars – of the 1999 horror blockbuster.
Joshua Leonard – one of many three stars of The Blair Witch Undertaking, together with Heather Donahue and Michael Williams – is now talking out in opposition to the deliberate film (a Lionsgate co-production), notably because it pertains to how the unique forged is handled. Linking to a chunk in Selection in regards to the Blumhouse enterprise, Leonard wrote, partly: “The WEIRD PART [about his likeness being used in the press] is that I didn’t know something about it till a buddy despatched me a ‘congrats’ screenshot yesterday. My frustration is compounded b/c I’ve been attempting to get @lionsgate to interact for over a month a couple of BWP charity screening I’m placing collectively for @opositivefest to lift cash for artists with out healthcare, and NO ONE will get again to me.” He added that “it’s 25 years of disrespect from the oldsters who’ve pocketed the lion’s share (pun supposed) of the income from OUR work, and that feels each icky and classless.”
It needs to be famous that Leonard has subsequently heard again from Lionsgate because the ordeal began gaining traction, however the actor just isn’t able to go down with out making his level. Previous to this, Leonard would go on to rattle off a number of examples of how the studio has ensured that he and his co-stars are usually not being financially compensated for The Blair Witch Undertaking, which had an unique price range of not more than $60,000 however would absorb practically $250 million worldwide, making it one of the vital worthwhile movies ever. Nonetheless, he doesn’t suppose that even when he wished to pursue authorized motion that he would stand an opportunity. On the similar time, Leonard additionally maintains that his place isn’t about cash however moderately “human decency”, saying extra respect needs to be given to “the craftspeople off who’s backs companies make their income.”
As this new Blair Witch film strikes ahead from Blumhouse and Lionsgate, they might discover Leonard constructing help for his case, one thing we’re already seeing. And going off of his phrases, he may have a case right here in his try to not solely rise up for the unique The Blair Witch Undertaking forged – who has had earlier authorized battles relating to how their likenesses have been utilized in subsequent films – however another creatives who’ve discovered themselves in such a state of affairs.
What do you make of Joshua Leonard’s assertion in regards to the forthcoming The Blair Witch Undertaking film? What duties do the studios maintain when it comes to compensation?
