Evil Dead RisedirectorLee Croninhasteased his next horror moviewhich is slated for release on July 26, 2025,but remains a mystery for now.Cronin’s take on the long-running franchise that was started by Sam Raimi back in 1981 went on to becomethe highest grossing entry in the series thus far, earning $147 million at the box office, and putting Cronin on the mapas a horror director to watch. While he was previously tapped by New Line Cinema to direct the sea-faring horror movieThawshortly afterEvil Dead Rise’s SXSW premiere last year, there’s been little news on the project,and now it seems as if his new film is taking precedence.
As perDeadline, Croninwill both write and direct the new horror filmfor Atomic Monster, Blumhouse, and New Line Cinema, with his own Doppelgängers banner also involved in the project, which appears to be an original idea,and not a remake, reboot, or reimagining of any current IP. The plot of the mysterious new horror filmis being kept under wraps for now, but Cronin did share an image on social media of the screenplay’s cover page with the title blacked out. Check it out below.
In a statement released by Cronin, he says he’s“super excited”to be teaming up with Jason Blum’s production company, Blumhouse, and James Wan’s company, Atomic Monster, the two of which merged earlier this yearto become one powerful horror factory.
“I am super excited to be gathering up my gang of oddballs from Doppelgängers to join forces with the overlords of horror at Blumhouse and Atomic Monster. Collaborating with Jason [Blum], James [Wan] and the wonderful teams from these two storied and massively successful organizations is what perfect nightmares are made of.”
He would go on to call the chance to work with New Line Cinema once more the“cherry on top”of the deal. New Line had a hand in producingEvil Dead Rise, which was distributed by Warner Bros., the same company that will also distribute his new film. Cronin finished off his statement by teasing his mystery filmas something that will be “wickedly entertaining and terrifying.”
“I’ve got something wickedly entertaining and terrifying hidden up my sleeve, and I can’t wait to bring it screaming to the big screen on April 17th, 2026.”
Jason Blum Calls Lee Cronin’s New Movie a “Modern Take on Something Quite Ancient”
While Blumhouse and Atomic Monster previously teamed up to produce the horror filmM3GANfor Universal in 2023, their first joint release upon merging came by wayof 2024’sNight Swim(also from Universal), which hit theaters on January 5 of this year, just days after the deal was finalized. With Lee Cronin now on board to write/direct a new original horror movie, this will mark the two companies' firstjoint venture to be released by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Jason Blum commented on the first, while also providing a bit more insight into what Cronin’s horror film could be about. He called the ideaan “intriguing, modern take on something quite ancient.”
“Lee’s work is always fresh and surprising andhe has an intriguing, modern take on something quite ancient that I think audiences will love. This also marks an exciting series of firsts for us: Atomic Monster and Blumhouse’s first time working with Lee and our first joint project for Warner Bros. We can’t wait to get started.”
Evil Dead Rise Director Addresses Possibility of a Sequel
Lee Cronin spoke about the possibility of doing a sequel after helming the most financially successful installment of the franchise.
There’s no word yet on when production for Lee Cronin’s yet-to-be-named horror movie will begin, but in the meantime, both Blumhouse and Atomic Monsterhave a slew of releases coming outbefore it releases in 2026, includingM3GAN 2.0, Leah Whannel’sWolf Man,Salem’s Loton Max later this year, and the sequel to Emma Tammi’s smash hit,Five Nights at Freddy’s 2.
