Universal Lands Curry Barker's New Horror Film in Eight-Figure Deal as Obsession Tops $300 Million

Q: How will Curry Barker’s new horror movie connect to the terrifying universe he's already building?

There is no confirmation yet that Curry Barker’s newly announced horror film will connect directly to the same on-screen universe as “Obsession.” Universal and Blumhouse Atomic Monster have only said it is an original project based on Barker’s own pitch, and no plot or franchise details have been released. What is clear is that Barker is already building a recurring horror world through his recent films. His upcoming “Anything But Ghosts” has been confirmed to exist in the same universe as “Obsession,” including a direct reference to Nikki’s triple homicide from the earlier film. That establishes that Barker is open to linking stories across separate movies rather than treating each one as fully standalone. So, if the new film connects at all, the most likely path would be through subtle world-building rather than an overt sequel: shared incidents, references to past crimes, overlapping mythology, or thematic echoes around obsession, fear, and distorted desire. That would fit Barker’s approach so far, where the films are original but still inhabit a common horror landscape. The strongest evidence, however, is industrial rather than narrative. This is Barker’s third collaboration with Universal, Blumhouse Atomic Monster, Spooky Pictures, and Divide/Conquer, the same creative network behind “Obsession” and “Anything But Ghosts.” That continuity makes a future connection plausible, but at this stage it remains speculation, not an announced fact.

3 articles · Updated · Jordan Ruimy · Jun 19

Universal has locked in Curry Barker to write, produce and direct a new original horror film in a rich eight-figure deal, keeping the breakout filmmaker in-house.
The pact follows Barker's $750,000-budgeted "Obsession" surpassing $300 million worldwide, a run that turned his next project into a studio bidding target before he even pitched it.
Blumhouse and Atomic Monster are returning as producers, while plot details remain under wraps and Barker said he had been eager to make the film for some time.
Barker's next release will actually be "Anything But Ghosts" — already completed and starring Aaron Paul, Bryce Dallas Howard and Violet McGraw — giving Hollywood its next test of whether his breakout can be repeated.