'Blair Witch Project' Actors Say They're Still Being Exploited By Studio 25 Years Later

The original cast spoke to Variety as plans for a revival of the 1999 horror classic get underway.

The three stars of 1999′s “The Blair Witch Project” are speaking out against film studio Lionsgate as plans for a revival of the era-defining horror classic get underway.

In a wide-ranging interview with Variety, Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Michael C. Williams say they’ve missed out on profits from the original movie, which raked in a reported $248 million at the box office worldwide. Given the film’s then-unique faux documentary conceit, none of the three actors were able to benefit from its unexpected success, and are now seeking residuals 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 told the publication. “Giant corporations don’t care that this happens to young artists. It’s bullshit. And that’s got to change somehow. Hopefully, we will help somebody to see: Don’t do what we did.”

Added Leonard: “I don’t need Lionsgate to like me. I don’t care that they know that I think their behavior has been reprehensible. I don’t want my daughter to ever feel like anything is more valuable than her self-worth.”

The trio’s remarks come just months after Lionsgate honored the 25th anniversary of “The Blair Witch Project” by announcing plans for a big-screen revival. The new film will be produced by Jason Blum, whose work includes the “Paranormal Activity” and “Halloween” franchises, and is intended to “reintroduce this horror classic for a new generation,” according to Lionsgate Motion Picture Group chair Adam Fogelson.