Now this is a pairing! Variety has reported that Lionsgate has scooped up the rights to a high-concept thriller pitch titled Smart House. The pitcher? Filmmaker James Wan, who will produce. The batter lined up to knock it out of the park? Alexandre Aja, director of High Tension and the fantastic 2006 remake of The Hills Have Eyes. Wan will produce the project via his company. Atomic Monster, alongside Michael Clear. Aja’s longtime collaborator, Gregory Levasseur, will also produce.
So what is Smart House?
“Smart House” is a thriller about a family in the witness protection program placed in the custody of a state of the art, autonomous ‘smart house.’ When a group of assassins locates the family, the house goes into a lethal defense mode.
The screenplay has been penned by Brad Keene (The Gravedancers). There’s no information about a production timeline as of yet. Aja was slated to begin filming on The Marquis, his dark period piece drama, early this year. Unfortunately I cannot find any information on whether or not production has begun on that film. As as result, it is unclear if this will lens before The Marquis, assuming the latter has not yet gotten off of the ground. Aja also has a horror picture lined up at Blumhouse (Sleepwalker), as well as his long-in-development adaptation of Cobra: Space Pirate, in the works.
James Wan is currently in pre-production on Aquaman, which he will direct for Warner Bros. as part of their DC Extended Universe. In addition to this, he also has two efforts as a producer landing this year (Annabelle: Creation and Saw: Legacy), as well as a number of other producing efforts coming within the next year or so (Winchester, Lights Out 2, The Nun, etc.). After building up loads of clout from starting his own franchises (Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring) and leading others to record success (Furious Seven), Wan isn’t wasting his newfound power.
As a fan of both filmmakers, the prospect of them teaming together on a concept like this is beyond exciting. That goes double when the film in question sounds like a science fiction-ed up cross between Home Alone and You’re Next. Bring on Smart House!
