‘Phasmophobia' Film in the Works: Blumhouse Developing Adaptation of Horror Video Game
The film adaptation will be produced by Blumhouse and Atomic Monster, in association with Kinetic Games Limited. No distributor or release date has been set.
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First released in early access in 2020, 'Phasmophobia' became a social media fixation as Twitch streamers and YouTubers quickly took to the multiplayer ghost-hunting video game. Developed and released by Kinetic Games Limited, the title was a breakthrough hit for the indie banner, becoming the best-selling video game on Steam for several weeks through the final months of that year. It has been ported to several consoles and has sold more than 23 million copies globally in the time since. 'Phasmophobia' was also a critical darling, taking the prize in the category of best debut game at the 2020 Game Awards.
The project was unveiled at the first-ever 'Business of Fear' event in Hollywood on Tuesday, which featured Blumhouse CEO Jason Blum and president Abhijay Prakash as speakers. It comes as Blumhouse's latest video game adaptation, following their 2023 title 'Five Nights at Freddy's' — another film based on a streamer-popularized horror game. That Universal release grossed $291 million worldwide — an especially impressive figure, considering it had a simultaneous streaming debut on Peacock in North America.
A sequel, 'Five Nights at Freddy's 2,' will be released to theaters on Dec. 5. Blumhouse also sports a game division, with upcoming titles including 'Eyes of Hellfire' and 'Sleep Awake.'
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Chicago Tribune
22 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
Green Hills library promotes exploration, play with new kids area in Palos Hills
Activities such as telling stories and roasting marshmallows around a campfire, grilling and visiting farm stands provide memories for families, and the Green Hills Public Library District hopes to capture that vibe with its newly redesigned play area for children. The new theme of the space is a natural fit for the library, 10331 S. Interlochen Drive in Palos Hills. 'I chose the campground theme because I wanted a name/theme that evoked exploring, playing and fun,' said Natalie Djordjevic, head of Youth Services. 'This is what I want children to do in this space, so I wanted a name that reflected that.' A mural painted during the COVID-19 pandemic was camping themed, 'so the furniture, toys, and new additions were selected to fit our mural,' she added. 'We did some touch-ups on the paint during this construction project just to clean up the space a bit.' New play activities include log-like seating around a toy campfire with s'mores and roasting sticks that add to the playful element, a farmer's market stand, complete with play food and accessories, a wooden play grill and a snake that children are encouraged to sit on. Other activities that fire up imagination are a felt board table with themed characters and scenes, as well as an educational light table, which is the item Djordjevic likes best. 'My new favorite piece we added is the light table and all of the different science cards to use with it,' she shared. 'I love that we have a toy that is perfect for sensory play and also educational.' The light table includes X-ray transparencies and constellation patterns, encouraging young learners to explore science through play. In addition to the play items out on the floor, staff worked to develop a new in-house toy collection. Library patrons can check out kits with themes such as building, sensory, cars, active play and music. The reimagined space was part of the library's 2025-27 strategic plan, 'with the goal of transforming community feedback into functional results,' Deputy Director Sara Horn shared. She said the strategic planning process included surveying residents to get insights on how to meet the community's needs. 'One of our strategic directions is to optimize library spaces for access and comfort, and redesigning the play area became one of our priorities based on patron response.' Horn has high goals for the redesign. 'We hope that the space provides a positive, lasting impact on those that use it,' she said. 'These are some of the earliest interactions at the library for our youngest patrons. We hope that it can help establish a routine of regularly visiting the library as they continue to grow and pursue other services we offer.' The project cost about $16,000, which was built into the library's operating budget, and Djordjevic, with help from a committee, provided leadership for its planning and installation. 'I began by doing a lot of research on toys, furniture, and objects for the space. My main concerns were safety, ease of use, functionality, fun, if the new area and toy library would be manageable by staff, and cost,' she shared. 'After, I created a very detailed proposal, timeline checklist, purchase list, and task list. The team then completed tasks on the timeline. I created the toy library, trained staff on all the new procedures, and finally, our facilities manager assembled all of our new purchases.' Although one might be tempted to think only books would be important to libraries, that's not the case. 'Our mission is to connect the community with information and experiences to inspire lifelong learning. Books and reading are still integral to our mission, but libraries have evolved into community spaces that serve more needs than ever before,' Horn explained. 'For our youngest patrons, toys support learning, development, creativity, and imagination through play. And having an in-house toy library supports our sustainability initiatives since more patrons can get use out of the toys, reducing environmental and financial impacts.' Thus far, patron reaction to the changes and additions has been positive. 'The moment we opened the space there was already a family waiting to use it, and we've seen a lot of excitement from children and parents alike while they explored the new space,' Horn said. 'There have been times the space was filled with families enjoying themselves, which is really amazing to see.' Djordjevic said some equipment has been more popular than others. 'Definitely the farmer's market stand and grill, play food and cooking is always popular. The big sit and play snake has been a huge hit too!' Horn's favorite part of the redesign is tied to produce. 'I would have to pick the farm stand. When children serve up a platter of play food to their parent or caregiver, all with a big smile on their face, you can see their imaginations taking flight. And that is truly inspiring.' Although no specific programs have been planned, they are in the works. 'We would love to do some storytimes in the space during the upcoming school year,' Djordjevic said.


USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Louis Sachar won't write a ‘Holes' sequel, but he just released a new book for grown-ups
Don't expect a "Holes" sequel from Louis Sachar. The bestselling author behind the popular children's novel and its 2003 movie adaptation starring Shia LaBeouf is adamant the world of Stanley Yelnats is closed. But, he has a new story for longtime fans – his first novel for adults. 'The Magician of Tiger Castle' (out now from Penguin Random House) is a cozy fantasy set long ago somewhere south of France that follows a tea-obsessed magician who must save the royal wedding after a princess falls in love with a lowly scribe rather than her betrothed. He didn't originally set out to write an adult novel. Talking with USA TODAY ahead of the release, Sachar shares how "The Magician of Tiger Castle" unfolded naturally and what he thinks of the enduring 'Holes' fandom. 'The Princess Bride' inspired Louis Sachar's first adult novel Sachar took inspiration from 'The Princess Bride' by William Goldman – the book that made him want to be a writer. He wanted to try his hand at a similar story. This was during the early days of the pandemic, and Sachar's COVID hobby of choice was online courses about life during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. He was fascinated by humanity's limited scientific knowledge and the blurred lines between magic and medicine. That's how he created his protagonist, Anatole – kingdom magician, physician and unlikely hero. Once Sachar started writing him, he couldn't stop. 'He'd taken over the story,' Sachar says. 'I liked that. I liked him, but you can't have a 40-year-old man usually be the protagonist of a kid's book. So I said, 'OK, I'll make it an adult book.' Anatole is a sort of 'Miracle Max' type, but more rounded out than Billy Crystal's short movie scenes. He's up to his elbows in quirky, dungeon experiments. He's a tea snob. He's a father figure to both Princess Tullia and Pito, her forbidden love. He's got a plan to save the kingdom, impress his employers, deal with a rather annoying prince and avoid death by tiger. Though Sachar says writing an adult novel wasn't too different from a kid's book ('I wasn't trying to spice it up or anything,' he says), he was able to inhabit a more adult mindset with this protagonist. When he's writing a novel, it becomes his 'reason for getting up every morning,' he says. He found himself becoming Anatole, drinking his daily tea out of a cast-iron pot adorned with dragonflies. On vacation, he spotted a hand-carved mortar and pestle that seemed to jump from the pages. He bought it 'for' Anatole, he says. 'It just seemed like something he would like,' Sachar says. Anatole and the world of Esquaveta, a fictional 16th-century European kingdom, is Sachar to a tee – he likes books that teach him something (in this case, Medieval living), and he's not a fan of high fantasy with intense world-building and battle-hardened heroes. 'I get bored with stories about wars and superheroes,' Sachar says. 'I think it's more suspenseful to actually have someone who's kind of a klutz and kind of a coward have to suddenly be brave, because then you don't know how it's going to come out.' Louis Sachar thanks 'Holes' fans, but still won't write a sequel The magic of a novel like 'Tiger Castle' lies in the cozy afterglow – this feel-good fairytale is packed with whimsy and humor that reads like the grown-up version of 'Holes' or the 'Wayside School' series. Sachar is hoping that nostalgia brings in fans of those books, both of which remain beloved. 'Holes,' especially, has enjoyed long-lasting acclaim. On BookTok, readers rave about it as their favorite book as a kid or encourage a reread as an adult. Sachar says he feels 'more famous' now than he did when he first wrote 'Holes' because of that enduring fandom. But though readers keep asking whether he'll write a 'Holes' sequel, he's confident that world is finished: 'I'm not sure I can get into Stanley's head anymore,' he says. 'I wrote my first children's book when … I was 22 or 23 years old. I worked with kids while I was going to college, I wasn't that far removed from being a kid myself,' Sachar says. 'And now I'm 71 and I'm not sure how well I can relate to kids anymore, so I'd much rather relate to those same kids who grew up reading my books.' Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@


Axios
an hour ago
- Axios
Twisted Spoke to close after 30 years in Chicago's West Town
Twisted Spoke is closing its doors in West Town. Why it matters: Twisted Spoke has been a premier summer destination because of its rooftop, which was one of the first of its kind in the West Town neighborhood. The rooftop also served as a de facto Chicago landmark, due to its motorcycle-riding skeleton seen from the street. The latest: "After 30 years of blood, grease, and bourbon, Twisted Spoke is grinding to a halt," the bar posted on social media. "Everything dies. Bars, rock'n'roll, reputations — even the hard men who built them." Zoom in: The gritty gastropub opened in 1995 and is known for serving its own barbeque-inspired creations and for its extensive collection of whiskeys. State of play: Today, the West Town block where Twisted Spoke sits is littered with new bars and restaurants, which weren't there when it dropped anchor 30 years ago. What they're saying: Co-owner Mitch Einhorn told Block Club that the decision to close was due in part to rising food and labor costs and how habits have changed since COVID. "Late-night dining has changed a lot. Staffing has gotten incredibly expensive. Real estate taxes are spiraling out of control. It just seemed like it was time," Einhorn told Block Club.