Grave Encounters will reportedly be the next fan-favorite property to get the reboot treatment. 2011’s Grave Encounters is a Canadian found-footage horror entry, following the crew behind a reality ghost-hunting TV show, who endeavor to lock themselves overnight in an abandoned mental hospital — which goes horribly wrong thanks to the expected hauntings.

The small-time indie horror amᴀssed a cult following, leading to the 2012 sequel Grave Encounters 2, about a film student obsessed with the original Grave Encounters movie who visits the site where the events of the previous installment took place. Now, the writer-director pair behind the two original movies, Colin Minihan and Stuart Ortiz, are returning to develop a reboot.

Per Variety, the Grave Encounters reboot is now in development, with Justin Long (Barbarian, Live Free or Die Hard) set to star as well as produce. Long’s partner Kate Bosworth (Superman Returns) will also produce, as well as Minihan, Ortiz, and original Grave Encounters producer Shawn Angelski. Production will begin next year.

Minihan recently directed Coyotes, starring both Long and Bosworth, which will premiere at Fantastic Fest on September 20. Long and Bosworth said in a joint statement about their next project:

Our creative connection with Colin was undeniable on Coyotes and we wanted to continue that relationship as quickly as possible. He is a very rare combination of brilliant film maker and fun collaborator, and we are thrilled to help him resurrect a new imagining of one of his first horror gems, Grave Encounters. Grave Encounters has such a pᴀssionate fan base, and we include ourselves among them. We hope to honor the legacy of the original film, while unleashing something even darker.

Minihan and Ortiz reportedly hope to “modernize the concept [of Grave Encounters] into a cinematic experience, heightening the dread, claustrophobia, and psychological terror that made the original a fan favorite.” The writer-directors said in their own statement:

We made Grave Encounters in our 20s on a self-financed shoestring budget, and it scared the hell out of people. Justin has defined genre cinema for over a decade and is the definitive scream king. He’s the perfect choice to reimagine Grave Encounters for a new generation.

What This Means For Grave Encounters

Unlike with many remakes and reboots, it is easier to see how Grave Encounters has room to grow, and why the original filmmakers would be eager to re-adapt the concept. Minihan and Ortiz made the original with such limited resources that it will be exciting for them to do it again with more support because of Grave Encounters’ now established cult status.

The Grave Encounters reboot could be a strong update due to a horror star like Long coming on board, as well as the experience that the original writer-directors and producer have gained in the intervening years. Some fans will likely always prefer the campy original, low-budget though it may be, but their pᴀssion for Grave Encounters can still fuel the reboot.

Our Take On The Grave Encounters Reboot

Known as one of the great direct-to-video horror movies (with only a limited theatrical release), Grave Encounters never really had a proper chance to terrify people in theaters. Thus, the team’s ambitions to create a “cinematic experience” out of Grave Encounters could result in a true horror event in the next few years.

Additionally, Long’s horror star status has likely been somewhat boosted by the smashing success of Weapons. Long only has a cameo in the new movie, but it still serves to tie him to Weapons and Barbarian director Zach Cregger’s legacy. Thus, the fan-favorite personalities and the basis of a true underdog cult classic could make the next Grave Encounters something very special.