EXCLUSIVE: Rob Zombie has committed to make The Lords of Salem his next directorial outing. The film has been put together by Haunted Films, the company run by the Paranormal Activity team of Jason Blum, Steven Schneider and Oren Peli. The pic is a co-production between Haunted Films and Alliance Films, marking their third film together. The first, the James Wan-directed haunted house thriller Insidious, was acquired by Sony Pictures Worldwide right after its midnight premiere at the Toronto Film Festival last week. Barry Levinson is currently shooting the second, The Bay, in South Carolina. Octane, the genre arm of IM Global, will handle international sales of Salem.
The thriller is set in contemporary Salem, where the inhabitants receive a demonic visit from a 300-year old coven of witches. Zombie will write the script while on his upcoming concert tour circuit, and will shoot next year. Zombie tells me he originally hatched the Salem premise several years ago, but started stirring the cauldron again when he changed his plan to direct a remake of The Blob. He made the deal with Haunted Films because he liked the autonomy. “What excited me most was Jason saying, you can have total control over the script, casting and final cut,” Zombie told me. “I said I’m in.”
Zombie came to filmmaking after a long career in music, where the sounds in his head went right onto the album. Movies are more collaborative, and draining. “I’ve had differing levels of control, with the best experience being Lionsgate on The Devil’s Rejects, when I made the movie and they said, `great.’ The two Halloween movies were more give and take, and I had enough bloody battles to get my way that by the time I got it, I didn’t care anymore.”
He has always kept his budgets down, but his indulgence will be making a movie that’s allowed to unfold. “It’s so hard to make a patient movie, and if a classic like The Shining was being made now, you know some studio executive would say to cut 70 minutes out of it,” Zombie said. “People who’ve seen the director’s cut of Halloween on DVD like it better, and these theatrical releases are being cut to little more than the length of a TV show.” Zombie estimates he lost 15 minutes of his picture during its theatrical run.
Zombie changed his plans to bring back The Blob because after directing two movies inspired by the 1978 John Carpenter fright classic Halloween, he couldn’t bear playing the comparison game again.
“I wanted to break away from anything related to preexisting material,” he said. “The remake train is getting pretty tired now and when I made Halloween, everybody complained, either that it was too much like the original or too different. I like that people either love or hate what I do because it’s better than being in the middle, which means forgettable. But when you do an original premise, they take it on face value and after three years of not being able to win on Halloween, I just couldn’t go through that again.”
Zombie and his producing partner Andy Gould will produce with the Haunted Movies trio, and Brian-Kavanaugh-Jones, who left CAA to head up Automatik for IM Global’s Stuart Ford, will be executive producer.
Rob Zombie is love him or hate him, no in between. I love him and think he’s probably the best horror director working, so I can’t wait for this and even like the song. Wonder if it’ll actually happen though given how many projects he’s circled that haven’t been able to get financed.
Then you must not actually watch horror…
Lemme guess, David Goyer is also one of your favorites.
WOW another snob…. fucken congratts. it must be great being an elitist
Well, it’s nice to be able to spell “conrats.” Okay, it’s great being an elitist, too.
Shit, I meant “congrats.” *facepalm, out
Zombie March VII
Location: Boston South Station
Time: ?3:30PM Saturday, May 28th 2011
Probably not half as great as being a double-digit IQ moron with abysmal taste.
David Goyer dude? How can you diss him? I bet your someone who likes Marcus Nispel and James Wan. You’re obviously an unappreciative, uneducated pussy who still sleeps with his nightlight on while watching reruns of the Golden Girls.
I am definitely on the Looove him team! He’s HOT and his movies are the coolest! Nothing mediocre about him!
I am a true Zombie fiend and have always been since the White Zombie days. Even had a dog named Zombie, and was proud to tell people why. I’ve always loved horror films too, and can’t wait to see anything the master gets his hands on. All Hail..ROB ZOMBIE!!!
I love Rob Zombie! :) Can’t wait to watch this movie. :))
Both theatrical versions of his Halloween movies are just complete crap. I was ready to write him off, but then I took a deep breath and realized that they were both produced by the Weinsteins, so go figure on that one. I have to admit though his director’s cut of Halloween 2 is one of the best slashers I’ve ever seen. Really sick and demented in all the right places with actual multi-layered performances from all the leads. Loved it. If you haven’t seen it, check it out.
This guy sucks beyond belief. To call him a hack is an insult to hacks everywhere. Why anyone keeps hiring this talentless hillbilly is truly mystifying. Hey, I wonder if he’ll use his wife in this movie. Boooooooo.
you are so obviously jealous of this awesomely talented and sexy guy. go try and do better.
But you do remeber him enough to write a post about him…so his work is done. Being a ture horror fan myself I like Zombie and what he has tried to do in each of his filme. And i’m excited to see another original from him hitting the screens.
why are you insulting, “talentless hillbillies” to spite “hacks”?
like you can make any of his work of films better cityslicker, at least us country folks has some common sense and not critisize people that have a talent and make something of their life un like you that sits on their ass make other poeple fell bad and you accomplish something get a fucking life and move on
im a huge zombie fan, especially at mayhem DTE great performance you have me and my wifes support from the both of us, keep doing your job and enjoy your work and life. and we’ll see more of your concerts in the future.
Dude, Zombies the Man and obviously you come from a long line of Monkeys, Happy Halloween…………….
Why do you come in here to cause trouble? That pisses me off! He makes awesome movies. I love Halloween. He’s amazingly talented. If you can’t stand it then get out! ;) Let me guess. You are highly religious? Stop being an asshole. Rob Rocks our world. Deal with it! Sorry to swear. Just makes me sick when people come into disrespects others. There shallow minds.
yeah and I bet that you’re the type of “horror film buff” that loves bullshit like The Ring and Saw Franchises…get the fuck out of here with your nickelodeon ass. Rob Zombie is one of the only new horror film makers that are actually worth watching, the imagery and characters alone shit on anything “Scary” that hollywood has come out with for the past 10 years.
Can’t stand Ordinary Fucking People like you.
I love Rob Zombie!! From his music to every movie he had an influence in!! My favorite movie of all time is House of a 1000 Corpses!!! I will always be a big fan!!!
To each their own. I’ve loathed every film Zombie has made, especially Halloween. I have tons of his songs on my mp3 player, but his films are just stale.
u r stale
I love Rob Zombie’s movies. I own all of his films and cannot wait for the next one. In my honest opinion, his version of Halloween is better then the original. House of 1000 Corpses is the ONLY movie that has ever given me nightmares. He is a horror movie mastermind. I really hope all this works out because a new movie by him is long over due!
Great news your doing another movie, even greater that you have complete control over the direction. I really enjoy the way your Horrors feel like the old classics, and when you add a tune of yours well that’s the cherry on top !
I must say I do perfer the Theatrical Cut of Zombie’s Halloween over the DVD director’s cut. I thought many scenes taken in and out of it on the Director’s cut gave the movie a different feel that I didn’t like..Otherwise it was a great movie. My all time favorite film is DEVIL’S REJECTS! I wish Rob would make a prequel to House of 1000 corpses and make that story a trilogy. To me, Rob is the George Lucas of Horror!
Rob Zombie is lucky to be working. Let’s be honest – His movies are just plain awful. I Love him on stage but he’s a terrible “director” – Let’s get real here.
Wow… what are you,12? …obviously these comments are from people who have no clue about filmmaking, and what does his music career have to do with the film career? Clueless minds… Ahh and you wonder why this country’s in the toilet.
Ya know… people are entitled to their opinions.
Just because someone doesn’t share your opinion, doesn’t mean they are immature or a child like you implying.
I enjoyed most of the work Zombie has done in both films and movies, but not everything he touched turned to gold.
I like Rob Zombie a lot, but his fanboy following… not so much right now.
Grow up.
Zombie understands his craft and definitely knows this genre. I have yet to be disappointed by anything he does. Giving him complete creative control is the smartest thing they can do. The fact that he refuses to put out more mass produced big screen trash totally outweighs any short comings he has regarding box office dollars. I would rather end up with a cult classic than a forgotten box office hit any day.
I think is rob is freaking amazing and every single movie was been so legit I would a 3rd michael movie … Only director that has left me on the edge of my seat .. Dudes brilliant
All the Movies Rob Zombie has made have been Demonic, Crazy, and worth watching a few times….Because soooo much goes on you have to watch it a few times to see it all. Texas Chain Saw Masacre was always my favorite until….House of a 1000 Corpses and The Devil’s Rejects….But keep making Music…. Your The Master
looking forward to a new Zombie film, I have loved them and all. Took my 16 year old son to see him in concert this year for the first time. He and I are both big Zombie fans and are both looking forward to something new.
There have been shallow stylistic choices – not forcing the lovely Sherry Moon Zombie to wear fake yellow bubba teeth in Devils Rejects was one of them – but Mr. Zombie shows some cinematic promise. A move away from totally unnecessary remakes is wise choice.
Great move to make Zombie. Do something on yr own.Your original movies couldnt be any better,Twisted,Bizarre,Gory and no one can even come close to touching yr brilliant mind,music,and your out of this world skills!!!
Have a Spectacular Weekend with Sheri Moon.We share the same Birthday,hers 2 yrs ahead of me.Special 1 for her and keep on Rocking her world!!!! The 26th of September is a very very awesome day!!! : )~
If you know anything about film, you could see that RZ has a good eye with “1000 Corpses,” but his second feature has been by far his best. For the kind of film it was, “The Devil’s Rejects” was nearly perfect. I honestly feel it was truly great.
His two “Halloween” movies fall more into the “noble effort” category. I don’t feel anything can match the original so its a waste of time to try. That said, when you compare them to what the series had devolved into, complete with Busta Rymes fistfight, they start to look much stronger than previously thought.
I’m glad his new project is something original. Lets just hope that he uses the opportunity to break away from some of the cliched writing that has marred some of his otherwise fine projects. I’m looking forward to seeing his effort.
Possibly the most talentless, derivative “director” alive. The fact that he’s being allowed to make another “movie” is proof positive that Hollywood allows one to fail upward. His films are just as uninspired as his music.
His pathetic attempt at remaking HALLOWEEN resulted in the worst horror film of the last decade, and it’s notable that the bulk of people applauding him here in the comments section have no grasp on even basic spelling and grammar. That’s great that he has some fans out there, but it’s ever-apparent that most of them are braindead troglodytes.
LOL i love how you insult peoples grammer and here you steal an insult from a wrestler (Chris Jericho)… Don’t try and sound intelligent when your diologue is stolen from WWE
“Grammer?” Really. No idea who “Chris Jericho” is, but I do know how to spell grammar. Thanks for the laugh!
It’s sad you find it necessary to sink to a level of insulting intelligence because you can’t even come up with a valid reason Rob Zombie is not a complete genius.
Every one of Zombie’s films have had moments of absolute genius…the silent crane shot when Walton Goggins gets killed in House of 1000 Corpses is a notable example. Your assertion that the RZ remake of Halloween is the worst horror film of the last decade is laughable on its face and suggests that, in addition to being a pedantic twat, you don’t watch a lot of horror films. I assure you….there are much worse films made every year.
I like everything that is Rob Zombie related mostly, I have been a fan of him since middle school when he was doing White Zombie. But I have herd and seen complaints from other people doing remakes, I somewhat agree with them but I don’t think Halloween 1 or 2 was all that bad though. Yes he does need to do something that is his instead of remakes. yeah he is not the only one that is doing remakes of old horror flicks though.I think Rob needs to write another movie like he did with his first 2. If he re-made another Halloween sequal i think more people will start turnning their backs on him. But I will be looking forward to seeing The Loards Of Salem.
RZ is a real busy fella nowadays with his heavy concert tour schedule and on the side script writing…where does he find the time…I wish he could somehow find a way to make another flick about the McFly family from “The House of 1000 Corpses & Devil’s Rejects”…should make it where they come back from hell to kick more ass and take names from those to tried & killed them…just a thought…peace out!
“Dragula,” “More Human than Human,” “Living Dead Girl,” “Never Gonna Stop,” all sheer brilliance.
But can’t the Rob Zombie who makes that clean, powerful music have a conversation with the Rob Zombie who makes these sloppy, lazy, half-assed movies?
I am not trying to insult you, I’m sincere and serious fan of your music. But no studio or executive is fucking your movies up, Rob. You are fucking your movies up.
With all these so called horror directors out there it’s nice to know we still got an old school kinda of guy behind the camera. Rob Zombie is one of a kind hands down. Can’t wait.
Zombie RUINED the Halloween “name”. His remakes were awful. That’s enough of a reason for me to hate him. The Devil’s Rejects was the only decent film he has made. But how many times can you pay homage to the 70’s and populate your films with white trash characters? It’s stale indeed. He is just not a particularly talented filmmaker.
What the hell are you talking about? The original Halloween wasn’t scary or even disturbing, Rob made it freakishly gross. There were parts in them I couldn’t even look at the damn t.v. Devil’s Rejects AND House of a 1000 Corpses was Amazing. I love scary movies, but when I watch one of his it’s not just being scared, it’s getting so involved that I might actually get sick at what I am watching…and that is a true Horror Film.
I personally liked his Halloween remakes! Anybody can do a remake, scene for scene, but he put his own personal spin on it. They were more about Michael. I loved House of 1000 Corpses and Devil’s Rejects. I can’t wait to see Lords of Salem.
He made the Haunted World of El Superbeasto, animated, it was just plain garbage. I loved the Devils Rejects, House of 1000 Corpses was good, though like Halloween better, the second not so much.., Just saying no one can do anything great all the time, there is bound to be failures. I like him as a director and musician, but he isn’t perfect at either.
“Love him or hate him” … sounds like most people hate him. He’s a terrible director, guys. You can fill this talkback with all kinds of fluff but the truth is, he stinks.