The iconic stars of the 1999 horror sensation, The Blair Witch Project, have finally decided to open up against Lionsgate as plans for a revival of their landmark film move forward. In an in-depth interview with Variety, the trio—Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Michael C. Williams—revealed their ongoing struggles with missing out on the monumental profits generated by their pioneering found-footage thriller, which grossed approximately $248 million globally.
Despite the film’s overwhelming success, the actors originally signed contracts that precluded them from sharing in the box office returns. Now, they seek compensation and meaningful consultation
on future projects that use their names and likenesses.
I’m very grateful for what I have now and how fucking hard I fought to get it. But it still impacts me
, Williams expressed candidly. Giant corporations don’t care that this happens to young artists. It’s bullshit. And that’s got to change somehow.
Similarly, Leonard echoed these sentiments while adamantly criticizing Lionsgate’s treatment of them over the years.
Their comments come on the heels of Lionsgate’s announcement commemorating the film’s 25th anniversary with a forthcoming big-screen revival. Jason Blum, renowned for his work on horror staples like Paranormal Activity and Halloween, will helm the production aimed at reinvigorating the classic horror for today’s audiences. Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson remarked that the revival will reintroduce this horror classic for a new generation
.
The original film was directed by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez, two film students who innovatively used faux documentary techniques to capture their eerie tale. The plot centers on three student filmmakers—Donahue, Leonard, and Williams—who venture into Maryland’s Black Hills to make a documentary about local legend the Blair Witch.
Despite its critical and commercial acclaim, the actors experienced significant professional fallout. They were deliberately kept from attending the Cannes Film Festival premiere or participating in interviews to maintain the illusion that the movie was a real documentary. Furthermore, they lacked union representation upon release, amplifying their financial exclusion as casting directors erroneously viewed their performances as mere extensions of themselves.
Heather Donahue recalled a particularly poignant moment when The Blair Witch Project surpassed $100 million at the box office: they received a fruit basket instead of any meaningful share in profits. She said reflecting on that moment solidified her realization that they were being cut out from something they helped create so intimately.
The cast collectively sued Artisan Entertainment (now part of Lionsgate) in 2000 amidst the release of Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2. After four years, they reached a settlement yielding $300,000 each over several years but stipulating that Artisan could no longer use their names or images for profit without consent—an agreement they assert has been violated repeatedly since then.
An official joint statement from Myrick and Sanchez expressed hope for a satisfactory resolution for Donahue, Leonard, and Williams, noting that this anniversary provides an exciting opportunity to celebrate the movie and its legacy with fans
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