Corona | Coming Attractions

The teaser trailer for Paranormal Activity 2 hits theater screens today. Is it spooky enough to live up to expectations?

Word has it that a teaser trailer for the Paranormal Activity movie will play with this Wednesday's opening of The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, and that the sequel will have a presence at the San Diego Comic Con taking place next month.

Paranormal Activity director Oren Peli made the announcement on the movie's official website that Tod "Kip" Williams has been hired to direct the sequel.

"I have some awesome news for the fans of Paranormal Activity -- director Kip Williams will join us for the next chapter in the story," Peli said on the site. "We are thrilled to have Kip working with us. He is the guy we want at the helm, because he knows exactly what we want to deliver to the fans...and I can't wait to be a part of what he's putting together.

"I don't want to spoil the story but I promise it'll surprise you. Stay tuned."

The Los Angeles Times lists the names of three directors in the running for the Paranormal Activity 2 job. One individual is a surprise: Brian De Palma, the director of Scarface, The Untouchables, the first Mission: Impossible and many other thrillers. De Palma hasn't been known in decades for making lower budgeted films (however, his last picture, the Iraq war film Redacted, was of a smaller scope.)

Also up for the job: Wolf Creek helmer Greg McLean and Brad Anderson (Session 9).

Just a week after the trades announced the news of Paramount Pictures hiring Saw VI director Kevin Greutert to helm the sequel to Paranormal Activity, now there's a story that Lionsgate is exercising a clause in Greutert's contract forcing him to direct Saw VII 3D. Of course, that would mean that Greutert won't be able to make Paranormal Activity 2 for Paramount and that the studio would have to move fast to secure a substitute to ensure PA2 meets its October 22 release date (which, no so coincidentally, is the same release date for Saw VII 3D).

Paramount has slated October 22, 2010 as the opening date for its Paranormal Activity sequel. The studio has selected Saw VI director Kevin Greutert and screenwriter Michael R. Perry as the creative team behind the new movie, with original Paranormal Activity director Oren Peli and its producer Jason Plum producing movie number two.

"These guys get it, and the fans won’t be disappointed," Peli told The Hollywood Reporter of the hirings.

Today Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman said that his studio is formulating ideas for a sequel to Paranormal Activity but that a carefully constructed plan as to what that sequel's storyline and format will be has to be done. Dauman made the comment while giving an investor call, saying, "Our team will come up with the right creative and marketing approach."

The Los Angeles Times has learned that Paramount Pictures in considering making a sequel to its surprise microbudget horror hit Paranormal Activity.  However, all that Paramount chairman Brad Grey had to say about the likelihood of a Paranormal Activity 2 was, "We have the rights on a worldwide basis to do Paranormal 2 and we're looking to see if that makes some sense." [Full story]