Grave Encounters reboot is in the works with original star Justin Long coming back

Cult favorite horror movie Grave Encounters is making its return, this time with a modern twist. The 2011 found-footage horror film, infamous for turning a ghost-hunting reality show into a nightmare inside an abandoned asylum, terrified audiences and later spawned a 2012 sequel. Now, more than a decade later, the franchise is getting a reawakening for a fresh generation of fans.

Justin Long is leading the reboot and will also produce the film along with his wife and frequent collaborator Kate Bosworth. The film is being backed by Colin Minihan and Stuart Ortiz, who were the masterminds behind the first two films as well.

As reported by Variety, Long and Bosworth made a joint statement about the reboot, where they announced their return and how they plan to continue the franchise, as they said,

"‘Grave Encounters’ has such a passionate fan base, and we include ourselves among them. We hope to honor the legacy of the original film, while unleashing something even darker. We made ‘Grave Encounters’ in our 20s on a self-financed shoestring budget, and it scared the hell out of people. Justin has defined genre cinema for over a decade and is the definitive scream king. He’s the perfect choice to reimagine ‘Grave Encounters’ for a new generation.”

More details about the Grave Encounters franchise

Released in 2011, Grave Encounters became one of the most successful indie horror films of that era, made with a shoestring budget and limited resources, but it has continued to remain a cult classic. Written, directed, and edited by the Vicious Brothers, aka Colin and Stuart, the Canadian found footage horror flick took the formula of paranormal reality shows and twisted it into something deeply unsettling. It took a twist on a plot that felt both real and unsettling, bringing in a found-footage horror flick that checked all the right boxes.

The film followed a crew of thrill seekers who locked themselves inside a derelict psychiatric hospital with cameras rolling, hoping to capture something supernatural. Soon enough, they experience their worst nightmares and meet their final end.

Debuting at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2011, it was later released theatrically and then on video-on-demand, which cemented its underground popularity. Made with a budget of $120,000, it went on to earn more than $5 million and became one of the most popular midnight horror staples of the genre.

Soon enough, a sequel was made, although it failed to get the kind of reception its predecessor did. However, with a reboot underway, fans can expect something even more thrilling from the Vicious Brothers to continue the legacy of the franchise. As reported, production on the film will start in 2026.