Universal Acquires 'Found Footage' Thriller Spec By 'Strangers' Helmer Bryan Bertino

EXCLUSIVE: Universal has completed a pre-holiday acquisition of a spec script written by The Strangers writer/director Bryan Bertino. The project was acquired to be produced by Blumhouse’s Jason Blum, and Marc Platt and Adam Siegel of Marc Platt Productions. Bertino and his Unbroken Pictures partner Adrienne Biddle will also be producers. Blum and Platt have term deals at the studio. Blum is producer of the Paranormal Activity films.

I heard about the spec when it was circulated under the title Mockingbird, but at present it is untitled. Like Paranormal Activity, the Bertino spec is based on “found footage.” Bertino is not aboard to direct the film. Blumhouse just wrapped the Rob Zombie-directed Lords of Salem, as well as the Ethan Hawke-starrer Sinister for Summit Entertainment and is producing the ABC series The River. UTA made the deal for Bertino.