Paranormal Activity just found its new lead: Sonia Mena

If you've been wondering who's brave (or daft) enough to face ghouls through grainy cameras in 2027, look no further – the next Paranormal Activity film has bagged its main duo. After news broke that Chase Yi (you might know him from Mythic Quest) was on board, Deadline now says Sonia Mena (from Tell Me Lies) is set to join as co-lead. Yes, the found-footage mainstays are back, and no one seems able to leave this franchise buried for long.

What's Actually Happening With Paranormal Activity?

Jason Blum, the producer behind the whole Blumhouse shebang, had admitted the franchise got well and truly knackering after churning out sequels like it was on some supernatural assembly line. He wasn't even the bloke who pushed for Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin in 2021 – he called it ‘terrible,’ and honestly, he's not wrong. Still, even though he reckons we've had ‘enough already’ of shaky cam hauntings, here we are: Paramount's pressing ahead with a fresh film.

Who's Sitting in the Director's Chair?

The film will be helmed by Ian Tuason, which is quite the shout. If you don't know his name, Tuason made a splash with live-action VR horror shorts – the sort of videos that rack up millions of YouTube views and get showcased at South By Southwest. His feature debut, Undertone, nabbed the audience award at the Fantasia International Film Festival and apparently sparked a proper bun fight for distribution rights. A24 ended up dropping a mid-seven figure sum to bag it, outmuscling five other bidders. Tuason's personal ‘most disturbing films’ shortlist includes The Exorcist, The Blair Witch Project, and the original Paranormal Activity, so for fans, that bodes pretty well.

Production Lineup

• Blumhouse Productions – that's Jason Blum's lot – recently joined forces with James Wan's Atomic Monster. They're both in the ring this time, thanks to a proper merger.
• Paramount is handling the money and production alongside the new Blumhouse-Atomic Monster combo.
• The original creator, Oren Peli (he launched it all in 2009 with spare change and some CCTV), is producing too, through his Solana Films banner.
• Steven Schneider is executive producer for Room 101, Inc.
• Michael Clear and Judson Scott are executive producing on behalf of Blumhouse-Atomic Monster.
• Alayna Glasthal is the exec wrangling everything from the company side.

The Paranormal Activity Timeline (So Far)

Quick refresher, since the franchise is basically horror’s answer to a marathon relay:

- Paranormal Activity (2009)
- Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)
- Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)
- Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)
- The Marked Ones (2014)
- The Ghost Dimension (2015)
- Next of Kin (2021; which, again, was panned – even by its own producer)
- Japan even had its own unofficial entry: Paranormal Activity 2: Tokyo Night (2010)

What Happens Next?

The new Paranormal Activity film is locked in for a theatrical release on 21 May 2027. If you're counting days, get cracking.

Jason Blum, on Next of Kin: 'Terrible'