‘Obsession’ Director Curry Barker Lands Massive Eight-Figure Deal for New Universal Horror Movie

Curry Barker is already moving on to his next big project after the huge success of “Obsession.” According to The Hollywood Reporter, the filmmaker has signed a major eight-figure deal with Universal Film Group and Blumhouse Atomic Monster to create a brand-new original horror movie.

The new agreement will see Barker write, direct, and produce the project. While details about the story are being kept secret, the movie is based on an original idea from Barker that he personally pitched to executives at Universal.

The deal marks another important step in Barker’s fast-rising career. Just a short time ago, “Obsession” became one of the biggest surprise hits in Hollywood. The horror film has turned into a major box office success and sparked conversations across social media and among movie fans.

The partnership also keeps Barker working with the same studios that helped bring his recent projects to audiences. “Obsession” was released by Focus Features, which is part of the Universal family. Focus Features is also behind Barker’s second movie, “Anything But Ghosts,” which has already been filmed. Barker not only wrote and directed that project but also stars in it.

Blumhouse Atomic Monster has been involved with Barker’s work from the beginning. The company joined “Obsession” after the movie premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and also worked on “Anything But Ghosts.” The company will once again be involved in Barker’s latest project.

Additional producers on the new horror film include Roy Lee and Steven Schneider from Spooky Pictures, along with Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath from Divide/Conquer. The latter production company is known for horror movies such as The Black Phone and Heart Eyes.

Universal executives are clearly excited about continuing their relationship with Barker. In a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter, NBCUniversal Entertainment chairman Donna Langley praised the filmmaker’s work.

“Curry Barker has an exceptional ability to tap into the cultural zeitgeist, pairing an innate instinct for what resonates with audiences with extraordinary filmmaking prowess,” Langley said. “Barker’s talent is redefining what’s possible and we’re thrilled to continue our partnership with him.”

The success of “Obsession” has played a major role in making this new deal possible. Since opening in May, the film has continued to grow at the box office. According to The Hollywood Reporter, it became the highest-grossing release in Focus Features history and is expected to pass $300 million worldwide. The movie was originally made independently for only $750,000 before being acquired by Focus Features following its festival debut.

Barker also shared his excitement about returning to work with Universal and Blumhouse Atomic Monster.

“This film is something I’ve been excited to make for a while, and I’m thrilled to be reteaming with Blumhouse Atomic Monster and Universal Film Group for it,” he said. “They’ve built the kind of home for bold, original storytelling that every filmmaker dreams of, and I couldn’t imagine better collaborators for this film.”

Blumhouse Atomic Monster leaders James Wan and Jason Blum also praised Barker’s achievements. In a joint statement, they said, “With Obsession, Curry did what only a handful of filmmakers manage in a generation: he made something wholly original that connected with a massive audience, and that connection is what we care about most.”

For now, the plot of Barker’s new horror movie remains a mystery. What is clear is that after the breakout success of “Obsession,” Universal is making a major investment in one of horror’s fastest-rising filmmakers.

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