John Ridley to Write, Direct a 1960s Poltergeist Movie for Blumhouse

Oscar-winning filmmaker John Ridley is set to write and direct a new Blumhouse horror project, based on the first purported haunting to be experienced in a public housing project.
Based on the recently published article Project Poltergeist, written by Saleah Blancaflor for Truly*Adventurous, the adaptation will focus on the true events surrounding unexplained events that terrified a young boy in New Jersey in the 1960s.
Heat Vision breakdown
Blumhouse recently acquired the rights to the article. Jason Blum will produce for Blumhouse. Truly*Adventurous' Matthew Pearl and Greg Nicholas are executive producers. The film will be produced by Blumhouse in association with Truly*Adventurous.
“This is an incredible true-life narrative of a young man dealing with horrors - both paranormal and racially systemic - in a community that is scarred by hate, yet ultimately brought together by hope. I really appreciate Blumhouse’s commitment to telling stories that seek to entertain audiences even as it challenges them,” said Ridley
Added Blum: “The best scary movies are always based on a real event, and we were very compelled by the material this story is based on. I also know that John Ridley is as good as you get as a dramatic storyteller, so we’re confident that infusing this story with John’s brand of drama is a great bet."
Ridley, repped by Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Hirsch Walerstein, is currently working on Black No More, a musical with The Roots’ Black Thought.
Truly*Adventurous is repped by New Leaf Literary and Felker Toczek.

- Mia Galuppo
- mia.galuppo@thr.com
- @miagaluppo
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