New Chapter for the Longlegs Franchise: Paramount Pictures Takes the Lead

Osgood Perkins is set to direct a new feature in the Longlegs universe, a follow-up to his successful mystery horror thriller that became the highest-grossing independent film of the past decade. This new project, which Perkins has written and will also produce, has found a new home at Paramount Pictures, a subsidiary of Skydance, after original distributor Neon stepped aside due to the project's expanded scope and budget. Nicolas Cage will reprise his role as the titular character and serve as a producer alongside Brian Kavanaugh Jones of Range Media, Chris Ferguson of Phobos, and Dave Caplan of C2.

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The original Longlegs film, released in 2024 by Neon, was a surprise hit, grossing $128 million worldwide on a budget of less than $10 million. The film featured Maika Monroe as an FBI agent with clairvoyant abilities investigating a series of murder-suicides linked to a serial killer known as Longlegs, portrayed by Cage in a distinctive performance. The film's blend of occult themes, mind manipulation, and crime procedural elements created a rich narrative landscape that has prompted further exploration within its universe.

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Paramount Pictures, under the leadership of Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg, is intensifying its focus on the horror genre. The studio has established two production entities dedicated to horror, including one led by J.D. Lifshitz and Raphael Margules, and another by Walter Hamada, who is working on the upcoming film Passenger. Additionally, Paramount is relaunching the Paranormal Activity franchise with producers James Wan and Jason Blum, capitalizing on the recent success of Scream 7, which grossed $211.9 million.

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While the shift from Neon to Paramount has been framed as a strategic move, some industry observers may question the implications of such a transition, particularly regarding the creative vision and direction of the Longlegs franchise. Concerns may arise about whether the new partnership will maintain the original film's unique tone and storytelling style.

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Osgood Perkins has recently completed production on another horror film titled The Young People, featuring Nicole Kidman, Lola Tung, and Nico Parker. Nicolas Cage is set to appear in Amazon Prime Video's Spider-Man series Spider-Noir, debuting in May, and will portray football legend John Madden in David O. Russell’s upcoming film Madden later this year.

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• “Neon/Courtesy Everett Collection Sources say that Neon stepped aside when the new project’s scope and budget exceeded that of the company’s normal parameters.” — Source

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This new installment in the Longlegs franchise represents a significant development in the horror genre landscape, as Paramount Pictures seeks to capitalize on the success of its predecessors while exploring new narratives within an established universe.

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