Paramount Signs First-Look Deal With Platinum Dunes

Paramount really wants their horror, and they want it early.  According to Variety, the studio has signed a first-look deal with Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes, famous for developing and backing low budget horror movies, most of them remakes.  This marks the first term deal from Adam Goodman, since he stepped in as president of the Paramount Pictures Film Group in June.

Says Goodman about the deal:

What makes us so excited to have Platinum Dunes here at Paramount is how Michael, Brad and Andrew carved out an important niche for themselves over the past few years.  They have consistently created excitingly commercial movies that have proven to be a formidable force at the box office. We look forward to a long and productive partnership with them.

Two projects are on tap for Paramount to take a look at.  First up is ‘The Butcherhouse Chronicles,’ a thriller written by ‘The Grudge’ scribe Stephen Susco, which is being touted as ‘The Breakfast Club’ in a haunted house.  Also on deck is ‘Property of the State,’ a Howard Franklin (‘Hollow Man’ and ‘Antitrust’) scripted thriller about a white-collar criminal whose efforts to go straight are hindered by a menacing parole officer.

Platinum Dunes partner Brad Fuller says the hopes for the production company are to branch out from the horror genre and into action films and thrillers.

The key is making them at a low budget.