The original trio of actors from “The Blair Witch Project” has made a public statement demanding royalties from Lionsgate following the announcement of a reboot. What will be Lionsgate’s response to this demand?
Tl;dr
- The original actors from The Blair Witch Project are asking for financial compensation from Lionsgate.
- The demands include compensation, consultation, and the creation of a grant.
- The actors argue that their rights have not been respected in the past.
- The demand comes as a reboot of the film has been announced by Lionsgate and Blumhouse.
The Blair Witch Project: Original Actors Demand Compensation
Heather Donahue, Michael C. Williams, and Joshua Leonard, the iconic actors from the 1999 film The Blair Witch Project, have recently issued a statement requesting compensation from Lionsgate, the studio behind the film’s reboot.
Actors’ Demands
In addition to this compensation, the actors are demanding to be consulted for the creation of the The Blair Witch Project reboot. In a Facebook post, Leonard stated that this was not the case in the past, which may have contributed to the poor performance of previous adaptations. Finally, the actors are asking Lionsgate to fund a $60,000 grant, equivalent to the budget of the original film, intended for an aspiring director for their first feature film. According to their proposal, this grant should have no strings attached, with Lionsgate not having any rights over the film produced as a result.
The Right to Fair Compensation
In 1999, the three actors were not members of SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union, when they starred in The Blair Witch Project, a low-budget film that generated $248.6 million in profits. Leonard highlights in his post the difference between the actors’ situation at the time and today, stating that they have become “mature adults” who have learned to advocate for their rights. Due to the success of the film, they believe they should receive compensation, as would be the case for actors covered by SAG-AFTRA.
Timely Demand
The actors’ demand coincides with the announcement of the reboot of “The Blair Witch Project” by Lionsgate and Blumhouse. With this new version, interest in the original film is likely to grow, thus generating additional revenue through streaming. This further justifies Leonard, Donahue, and Williams’ demand for compensation.
What Do We Think?
It is essential to respect the rights of actors, especially regarding compensation. Their demand is legitimate, considering the success of The Blair Witch Project and the profits generated. Hopefully, Lionsgate will take these demands into account and set a precedent for fairer compensation in the film industry.