This is definitely some cool news. Blumhouse has been on a tear in the U.S. over the past five years or so, releasing a vast array of low budget (but in some cases high prestige) horror films. If you're unfamiliar for some reason, they’re behind the Paranormal Activity, Sinister, Insidious and Purge franchises. Now it appears as though they’re going to be expanding that ethos to India. In a three-way partnership, Asian startup Ivanhoe Pictures will finance the projects. India’s own Phantom Films will also be involved and has already attached director Anurag Kashyap to one of the films. Blumhouse will primarily be more involved with the creative end of things and the films will be released under their banner.
These movies will be local-language films, which I think is certainly the right way to go in this scenario. Hit the jump for more on Blumhouse bringing their brand to India.
Here's the official press release:
Blumhouse Productions, Ivanhoe Pictures and Phantom Films announced today that they have formed a multi-year partnership to produce local-language genre movies in India. The deal calls for the production of a minimum of ten films over five years.
Ivanhoe Pictures, the recently launched Asian focused film and television production company, will finance the films, Phantom, which is India’s first director led production house, will produce while one of its founders Anurag Kashyap, the acclaimed Indian filmmaker, will direct one of the movies and Blumhouse will help oversee the creative, bringing its expertise creating horror franchises like Paranormal Activity,The Purge, Insidious and Sinister. The films will be released in India under the Blumhouse brand, which has generated success in the area. Distribution will be announced at a later time.
Ivanhoe Picture’s co-founder and CEO John Penotti commented: “We are so pleased to be part of this extraordinary partnership. Blumhouse and Phantom are two of the film world's most innovative and forward thinking producers of highly commercial, quality driven films in the market. We look forward to many years of productive and thrill-filled collaboration."
Madhu Mantena, one of the founders of Phantom Films said: "We are very proud of being part of this first of its kind association in the Indian Sub Continent and couldn't be more excited about our collaboration with the progressive creative forces of Blumhouse and Ivanhoe. Look forward to some terrifying films from India."
Jason Blum, founder and CEO of Blumhouse said: "Ivanhoe and Phantom are the perfect partners to help create engaging, terrifying films for the rapidly growing Indian market. We are excited to bring our approach of empowering filmmakers to tell their favorite genre stories to local-language productions."
