‘Saw 3D’ vs. ‘Paranormal Activity 2′ Heats Up

Published by Jeff Leins on: January 26th, 2010

Last week Paramount Pictures announced screenwriter Michael R. Perry and Saw VI director Kevin Greutert were working on a sequel to Paranormal Activity for an October 22 release.  Their poaching of Greutert from the torture series and positioning the sequel on the same day as Saw VII (Saw 3D) directly challenged Lionsgate and reignited the studio rivalry from last October.

Not particularly happy about the recent development and losing last Halloween, Lionsgate has exercised a contract option that would force Greutert to direct the seventh Saw movie, according to Deadline.com.  The studio previously set David Hackl (Saw V) to usher in the third dimension to the stagnant series, but he’s been sidelined for Greutert’s return and may be given another movie as a consolation prize.

Naturally Greutert isn’t happy about becoming a casualty of the studio war.  He issued a statement on his own website (now removed) that sums up his feelings on the matter.  Here it is (via Bloody-Disgusting):

“I’m in the middle of something really terrible right now, as anyone who has come to this site probably knows. While I fight for justice in this, the important thing is to avoid giving in to hatred and anger, because these emotions are life killers. Hopefully we will all arrive at an amicable solution. Thank you to everyone who is working with me on this.”

I don’t blame Greutert for wanting to move on.  He served as editor for five Saw movies before finally being given the chance to make his own.  The movie flopped due to tough competition and fan weariness, not because of his direction.  Now he’s being yanked back by a studio that replaced him to direct an installment for a franchise that died years ago over an opportunity to make a fresh sequel with Paranormal Activity 2.

Both studios will need to come to an agreement soon if either is going to have a movie ready for October 22.  I’m eager to see how Paramount responds.