Universal is printing money off the success of its $5-million-dollar hit Oujia, and according to Deadline, it looks like Lionsgate wants to use its own occult practices to manifest the original pitch Pentacle, a supernatural thriller from Vertigo Entertainment.
Based on an original pitch by hot Black List screenwriter Ian Fried (Gaslight, The Ever After Murders), Pentacle is described as a dark thriller set in the world of magic, with a style akin to the Amblin films of the ’80s (Gremlins, Poltergeist). Fried currently has his supernatural “Ghostbusters-meets-Call of Duty” action script Spectral lensing in Budapest for Legendary Pictures and director Nic Mathieu for an August 2016 release, while another sci-fi pitch titled Prism is set up at Paramount.
No story details are announced, but a Pentacle is an amulet worn around one’s neck that is used to evoke a spirit or energy during magic rituals, typically with a protective symbol on the reverse side… you know, just in case?
Vertigo’s Roy Lee and Adam Stone will produce along with executive producer John Powers Middleton, all of whom were involved in Gil Kenan’s upcoming Poltergeist remake for MGM and Fox.
