Rei Hance, formerly known as Heather Donahue, has confirmed she will not participate in the upcoming reboot of 'The Blair Witch Project', citing unresolved issues over rights, compensation, and the use of her identity and voice. The actress, who starred in the original 1999 found-footage horror classic, made her position clear in a Facebook comment responding to recent statements by producer James Wan.
Hance wrote that she was offered an agreement that raised “difficult long-term questions about rights, future technological use of identity and voice, the ability to speak freely, and compensation.” She added, “Ultimately, it just wasn’t something I felt comfortable signing. I genuinely wish everyone involved well. But preserving my autonomy mattered more to me.”
The reboot is being developed by Lionsgate and Blumhouse, with Dylan Clark directing. Wan had earlier suggested that Hance and her co-stars Michael Williams and Joshua Leonard would be involved as executive producers, along with original filmmakers Daniel Myrick, Eduardo Sánchez and Gregg Hale. However, Hance's statement contradicts that claim.
Hance, Williams and Leonard have previously called for retroactive and future residual payments from the franchise, which grossed nearly $250 million worldwide on a $60,000 budget. They also demanded “meaningful consultation” on future projects and a grant for aspiring filmmakers, arguing they were not properly compensated for the film's success.
The original film spawned two sequels: 2000's 'Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2' and 2016's 'Blair Witch', the latter of which used Hance's likeness without her involvement. The upcoming reimagining, which is set to shoot this fall, follows a family on a camping trip who go missing one by one after hearing strange noises in the forest.
