Filmmaker Jacob Chase has set his next horror project, Sleepover, for an October 8, 2027 theatrical release with Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Atomic Monster. The announcement follows the box office success of his franchise installment Insidious: Out of the Further, which recently grossed over 60 million dollars worldwide.
Universal Reserves October 2027 for New Horror Project
Universal Pictures has officially claimed an October calendar slot for Sleepover, scheduling the feature for October 8, 2027. The studio reserved the date for an untitled Blumhouse Atomic Monster production before fastening the title to Chase’s new project. The film moves quickly through development as a Cinescape Entertainment production, presented jointly by Universal Pictures and Blumhouse Atomic Monster.
Plot details remain closely guarded by the studio, though industry reports describe the feature as the quintessential sleepover nightmare. The screenplay originates from a short story written by Bryce McGuire, who co-wrote the script alongside Chase. McGuire previously directed Night Swim.
Box Office Momentum Drives the Reteam
The greenlight arrives directly on the heels of robust global earnings for Insidious: Out of the Further. Distributed by Sony Pictures, Screen Gems, and Stage 6, the sixth installment of the 16-year-old PG-13 horror franchise pulled in a solid 25.3 million dollars domestically during its opening weekend, pushing its worldwide total to 60.5 million dollars and elevating the entire franchise to $800M globally.
Chase discussed his approach to helming a long-running horror property, emphasizing an uncompromising creative standard despite franchise constraints.
“Look, I know it’s the sixth Insidious movie. Who cares? It’s just a franchise movie. But we didn’t treat it that way. I really treated Out of the Further like I was trying to make the Citizen Kane of Insidious movies, and it felt that way on set.”
Jacob Chase, Director via The Hollywood Reporter
Ahead of the Insidious: Out of the Further release, Chase also spoke about the mechanics of scaring viewers. Scaring people is kind of like magic — literally magic tricks — which is also something I had a real affinity for growing up,
he said. It’s all misdirection, right? It’s figuring out how you can constantly surprise an audience in the way that the best magic tricks do.
Behind the Creative Team and Production Roster
Jason Blum produces Sleepover under the Blumhouse banner. Executive producer duties are shared by Chase, Bryce McGuire, and Bea Sequeira, while Lilly Tyson oversees the project day-to-day for Blumhouse Atomic Monster.
Chase’s feature history includes directing the Amblin Partners horror film Come Play, which bowed at the Halloween box office in October 2020 and was based on his own 2017 short about a parking lot attendant haunted by a monster who emerges from touchscreen gadgets. His feature directorial debut arrived with the Slamdance indie dramedy The Four-Faced Liar in 2010. He has also directed last year’s Bad Boy.
Chase is represented by CAA, Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman, and The Initiative Group. McGuire is represented by Gersh and Ziffren Brittenham.
Competitive Fall 2027 Release Slate
By securing the early October frame, Sleepover drops straight into a crowded autumn horror and family calendar. Universal’s date places it alongside Warner Bros.’ J.J. Abrams feature The Great Beyond, Amazon MGM and Sony Animation’s animated sequel The Haunting of Hotel Transylvania, and Universal’s own legacy sequel to The Mummy franchise starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz.
