Curry Barker, the director behind the critically acclaimed horror film Obsession, is set to release his next project, Anything But Ghosts, in theaters on May 7, 2027. The film will exist within the Obsession universe but will follow an entirely new ensemble cast, blending horror and comedy elements.
Anything But Ghosts will star Bryce Dallas Howard, Aaron Paul, Violet McGraw, Chris Reinache, and Cooper Tomlinson. Tomlinson, who appeared in Obsession as Bear's friend Ian, will play one of the two leads: phony paranormal investigators who find themselves facing real ghosts. According to Tomlinson, the film aims for a tone described as "if Key and Peele walked into Hereditary."
"It’s a buddy comedy, you know, about these two guys, and it turns really scary," Tomlinson explained. "It’s about these con artist ghost hunters who encounter real ghosts, and then they have to step up and be the thing that they promised this family."
Barker and Tomlinson are co-writing and producing the film, which is a collaboration between Focus Features and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster. This marks the second partnership between the two production companies and Barker, following the success of Obsession earlier this year. Focus Features holds worldwide rights, with Universal Pictures International handling international distribution.
Obsession achieved significant financial success relative to its budget and garnered critical acclaim, quickly becoming a horror staple. The film's success also propelled lead actress Inde Navarrette to international recognition, securing her a role in Marvel's X-Men reboot as Rogue and drawing attention from studios eager to work with Barker on future projects. The chemistry between Barker and Tomlinson, previously showcased in their humorous YouTube videos, is expected to be a central element of Anything But Ghosts, complemented by the star power of Howard and Paul. Given the success of Obsession in delivering scares on a modest budget, Anything But Ghosts is anticipated to offer both comedic and frightening moments.