Ian Tuason to Direct Paranormal Activity 8, Promises a Serious and Scary Reboot

A new Paranormal Activity film is officially in development, with Ian Tuason to direct Paranormal Activity 8. The Undertone filmmaker will take the helm of the next installment, while horror heavyweights Jason Blum and James Wan are attached as producers. Their involvement signals a potentially significant turning point for the long-running supernatural franchise.

Sometimes I feel we don’t need another Paranormal Activity installment when we have seen what has become of the franchise. The found footage horror genre requires novelty with every new film, as the filmmaking style remains the same; hence, the script and narrative must be strong.​

But in recent years, the found-footage horror genre has seen renewed interest, with audiences showing a growing appetite for immersive and realistic storytelling styles. This resurgence suggests viewers may be ready for another reinvention of the format. 

Deadline reports executive producers include Michael Clear and Judson Scott, both of whom belong to Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, and Steven Schneider of Room 101 Inc.

Soon after the release of Next of Kin (2021), Blum wanted the franchise to end, as he explained that he has enough. He believed that the last Paranormal Activity movie was “terrible.”

 

 

 

 

 

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Director’s vision for the film

Ian Tuason’s debut feature, Undertone, has just arrived in theaters, and he is preparing for his next horror venture related to one of the most recognizable supernatural franchises. At the time of writing, the film has been received well by the critics.

Tuason was happy with what he created as he infused the found-footage DNA into Undertone. While talking to Dread Central, he said,​

“Oh, because I scared people without showing them anything, which is kind of what Paranormal Activity does too. I kind of stole from it. I stole from it. And now I’m giving back.” [Source]

He already teased his approach to making the new PA film, as he wanted the reboot that builds on dread rather than gore or explicit visuals. Hence, he confirms that the film will be “pretty serious.”​

Looking at Undertone, the film has already proved that Tuason knows how to make a one-location film, which is the dire need of Paranormal Activity movies. The PA revival will lean into the same minimalism with a tonal reset when the project is in Tuason’s hands.​

He further went on to elucidate that Jason Blum talked about different IPs, and Tuason was most interested in Paranormal Activity. He is familiar with how to make a film with a smaller budget. Evident from Undertone, he knows how to go about with Paranormal Activity.​

James Wan was also interested in the angle that Tuason was thinking about. Tuason was of the view that this was the only way that could be the best possible for the franchise’s reboot.

Since the plot details are still under wraps, it remains unknown whether the franchise’s de facto demon mascot, Tobi, will return. He is the central demonic antagonist, appearing as an unseen entity and a dark shadow. His name was first given in Paranormal Activity 3 by a young Kristi Featherson (alter Kristi Rey).​

Ian Tuason to direct Paranormal Activity 8 — What does this mean for the horror series?​

Recently, the found-footage horror genre has again gained popularity as Hell House LLC has amassed a massive fan following. Paranormal Activity has gotten worse over time, and a revival seems almost impossible.

Apart from the first Paranormal Activity (2007), which gained an 82 percent Rotten Tomatoes critics’ score, none of the rest of the PA films were able to live up to that mark. The ratings kept declining, both from the critics and the audiences.

One of the main reasons could be attributed to the constant change in leadership, as the directors of every new PA installment were different from the previous ones. Where the rotating lineup of filmmakers offered an advantage of experimentation for the franchise, it also made it difficult to maintain a consistent narrative direction or stylistic identity.

​In his recent interview, Tuason opened up about the possibilities of using new technology for the new PA entry. It has been more than a decade since The Ghost Dimension (2015), and the rapid technological advancement has been largely evident. He is convinced that technology has a large part to play in these films, and this is something that he wants to explore more.

Considering his work on the audio and visual technological elements that Tuason utilized in Undertone, Tuason seems an apt choice for the next PA 8, but he has clarified that he wants to be as close to the franchise’s specifics as possible. His emphasis on sound design and psychological dread could align well with the intimate, low-tech horror that originally defined Paranormal Activity.​

Moreover, modern technology could also open new storytelling possibilities for the next film. Homes are now filled with smart devices, security cameras, voice assistants, and phone recordings that could add several dimensions of acoustic fears to be infused in a found-footage perspective.

When is Paranormal Activity 8 releasing?​

Paramount has set a May 21, 2027, release date for the new Paranormal Activity movie.