Blumhouse-Atomic Monster is producing a horror-comedy called Anything but Ghosts starring Aaron Paul and Bryce Dallas Howard. The film is tied to the movie Obsession, which has earned more than $111 million globally.

The $111 million foundation of Curry Barker's shared universe

Obsession, directed by Curry Barker, has surpassed $111 million in global box office earnings as of June 1, according to the report. This financial success is not an isolated event but serves as the cornerstone for a broader narrative cosmos. The film is explicitly linked to a shared universe that includes the upcoming project Anything but Ghosts, suggesting that Curry Barker is attempting to build a cohesive horror ecosystem similar to the interconnected franchises that have dominated the genre in recent years.

Aaron Paul and Bryce Dallas Howard lead a fraudulent investigation

The upcoming horror-comedy Anything but Ghosts features a high-profile cast including Aaron Paul and Bryce Dallas Howard. According to the report, the plot centers on two fraudulent paranormal investiagtors who find themselves confronted by actual ghosts while attempting to maintain the deception of their business. The cast is further rounded out by Cooper Tomlinson, Violet McGraw, and Curry Barker himself, blending established screen veterans with new talent.

The Blumhouse-Atomic Monster and Focus Features partnership

The production of these films is driven by Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, a collaborative venture founded by horror heavyweights Jason Blum and James Wan. This partnership has been instrumental in securing distribution deals,most notably the agreement with Focus Features for the release of Obsession. By leveraging the brand equity of both Jason Blum and James Wan, the company is positioning its projects to maximize both critical reception and commercial reach.

Chasing the box office records of The Blair Witch Project

In a strategic move to maximize theatrical longevity, the digital release of Obsession was intentionally delayed. As reported, this decision was made to support the film's cinema run and attempt to break rare box office records previously set by seminal horror titles such as Friday the 13th and The Blair Witch Project. This approach signals a shift back toward protecting the theatrical window for "event" horror, resisting the trend of rapid-fire streaming debuts.

The missing release date for Anything but Ghosts

Despite the momentum behind the shared universe, several details regarding Anything but Ghosts remain unconfirmed. Specifically, a release date for the project has not yet been announced, leaving audiences in the dark about when the Aaron Paul and Bryce Dallas Howard pairing will hit screens. Furthermore,the report does not specify the exact nature of the narrative link between Obsession and Anything but Ghosts, leaving the specifics of Curry Barker's "broader narrative cosmos" to speculation.

The production of Anything but Ghosts also integrates modern digital influence through the casting of Chris Reinacher. Reinacher, known for Superstore and The Mindy Project, brings a significant online following with over 400 million views across his scripted and unscripted content. The involvement of backers like Spooky Pictures, Divide and Conquer, Image Nation Abu Dhabi, and the "That's a Bad Idea" YouTube channel suggests a diversified funding and marketing strategy aimed at Gen Z and digital-native audiences.