Oren Peli, the writer/director behind hit horror film Paranormal Activity, didn't rest on his laurels for long, already inking a deal and start date with Paramount Pictures on his next feature. Peli's next film, Area 51, will utilize the same "found footage" style currently employed in Paranormal Activity, but with a significantly larger budget to work with. Paranormal was produced with a budget hovering around the $15,000 mark, but this time around Peli will have $5M at his disposal. Peli had this to say on the subject..
"I'd rather not say anything about 'Area 51' except that I am very pleased to be working with the same team who stood by me for the two or three years it took 'Paranormal Activity' to get into theaters," Peli said.
Apparently Area 51 will deal with three friends who's curiosity leads them to the mysterious desert base, often speculated to be where the government keeps all it's findings that are either other-worldly or unexplainable.
If Area 51 is half as fun as Paranormal Activity was, then this will be a film worth keeping an eye on. My only worry is that the added budget will give it too polished of a look, because it was the gritty home movie style that made PA so effective. Then again, Area 51 sounds like it's going to have more of an alien/monster slant to it, so the added funds will probably be used solely for that.
