Obsession’s Curry Barker Nabs Eight-Figure Offer for His Next Project—No Pitch Required
Obsession filmmaker Curry Barker just landed an 8-figure deal for his next original project — sight unseen, with a studio buying in without knowing a thing or hearing a pitch.
If you haven’t heard the name Curry Barker yet, it’s probably just a matter of time. The bloke’s basically the talk of the horror scene at the moment thanks to Obsession—a scrappy little shocker that’s not only packing out cinemas but also scoring proper critical buzz. And, in a bit of a mad twist even by Hollywood standards, there are studios tripping over themselves to throw money at Barker before they’ve even heard what he’s actually making next.
Barker Fever: Why Studios Are Lining Up
Usually, a studio wants at least a logline before they offer you life-changing money, but Barker’s managed to skip all that. According to a report in The Hollywood Reporter, there’s at least one studio that tried to get ahead of the pack by putting $10 million on the table for his next original project—with zero info about what it is, who’s in it, or even if it’s about haunted stairwells or killer spreadsheets.
And I do mean "tried". Universal already has first dibs—they’ve got the right of first negotiation for Barker’s next original feature. Apparently, he’ll be sitting down with Universal execs soon, doing the whole pitch meeting thing. If they’re not keen, though, there’s at least one studio ready to pounce the moment Universal gives the slightest hint of a pass. How’s that for leverage?
What’s Actually Coming Next?
Now, whatever this top-secret project ends up being, it won’t be the next thing you see with Barker’s name in big letters on the poster. He’s already finished shooting Anything But Ghosts, which is another horror film but leans into mystery territory. This one’s got Aaron Paul, Bryce Dallas Howard and Violet McGraw in the cast. Barker co-wrote the script with his usual partner-in-crime, Cooper Tomlinson, and—because why not—he’s acting in it as well.
A Fresh Go at Texas Chainsaw Massacre
There’s more: Barker’s been tapped to write and direct a new version of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre for A24. If that makes you roll your eyes because, frankly, there have been more Leatherface reboots than hot dinners, Barker insists this won’t just be more of the same. Here’s how he summed it up:
He also said (bluntly, which I have to respect) that with the exception of the 2003 remake—which he rates as 'quite good'—most of the franchise’s endless sequels, remakes and prequels have seriously missed the mark. Barker’s view? The series hasn’t come close to realising its full potential yet. In his words: 'A lot of the remakes took things in exactly the wrong direction.'
Quick Recap: What’s Barker Got Cooking?
- Obsession: Breaking box office records and getting rave reviews, including at SXSW.
- Anything But Ghosts: Already filmed; a mystery-horror with Aaron Paul, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Violet McGraw. Co-written by Barker and Cooper Tomlinson. Barker’s in it too.
- Texas Chainsaw Massacre (A24): Barker writing and directing a new take he promises won’t be same-old, same-old.
- 'Secret Project': Universal has first crack at it, but another studio has waved around an 8-figure offer, sight unseen.
What the Critics Are Saying
As for Obsession, our own Chris Bumbray caught it at SXSW and came away properly impressed. Here’s his verdict: