Anything but Ghosts

Production and Development

The development of Anything but Ghosts was formally announced in September 2025, with Curry Barker set to direct, co-write, and co-star alongside Cooper Tomlinson. The project brought together a formidable production consortium, with Jason Blum producing for Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, Roy Lee and Steven Schneider for Spooky Pictures, and Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath for Divide/Conquer. The film was also backed by Image Nation Abu Dhabi and Barker and Tomlinson's own company, That's a Bad Idea. This assembly of producers signalled a major studio commitment to Barker's vision following the unprecedented success of his debut feature, Obsession. Focus Features, which had acquired Obsession out of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival for $15 million, secured worldwide distribution rights for Anything but Ghosts in March 2026.

Casting announcements followed in the spring of 2026, with established actors Aaron Paul and Bryce Dallas Howard joining the ensemble in April, followed by Violet McGraw and comedian Chris Reinacher in June. Principal photography commenced on March 9, 2026, under the working title Faraday, with the entire shoot taking place in Vancouver. The production wrapped just over a month later on April 11, 2026. Barker described the filming process as intensely demanding, noting they shot a 130-page script in 26 days, a schedule that required significant compromises on planned camera coverage and shot lists. The production timeline for the film involved several key milestones that moved the project from development to completion.

• September 2025: Project announced with Barker to direct, co-write, and co-star.
• March 2026: Focus Features acquired worldwide distribution rights.
• April 2026: Aaron Paul and Bryce Dallas Howard joined the cast.
• March 9, 2026: Principal photography began in Vancouver.
• June 2026: Violet McGraw and Chris Reinacher joined the cast.
• April 11, 2026: Filming wrapped after 26 shooting days.

Plot and Creative Vision

The film centres on a pair of fake paranormal investigators, Eddy and Mouse, portrayed by Cooper Tomlinson and Curry Barker respectively. Their fraudulent business, which capitalizes on the fears of clients by staging ghostly encounters, is thrown into chaos when they are confronted with authentic supernatural phenomena. The official logline describes the protagonists as "fame-seeking wannabe 'ghosthunters'" whose situation spirals "wildly and terrifyingly out of control" when they find themselves in over their heads. Tomlinson has likened the film's unique tone to a blend of comedy and horror, describing it in June 2026 as "like if Key and Peele walked into Hereditary".

Creatively, the film is set within the same fictional cinematic universe as Barker's previous film, Obsession, creating a connected storyline for fans. This shared universe strategy builds on the massive popularity of Obsession, which became a cultural and box office phenomenon in 2025. The project continues the creative partnership between Barker and Tomlinson, who co-wrote the script and are the film's leads, ensuring a consistent comedic and horrific voice from their previous collaborations. The creative team has drawn from several specific inspirations and established parameters for the film's world.

• Genre: Horror comedy blending genuine scares with comedic elements.
• Shared Universe: Exists in the same cinematic world as Obsession (2025).
• Tone Reference: Described by Tomlinson as "like if Key and Peele walked into Hereditary".
• Script Length: 130 pages shot over a 26-day schedule.
• Central Conflict: Fraudulent ghost hunters confronted by real supernatural forces.

Cast and Characters

The ensemble cast features the two writer-director-stars at its core, supported by a mix of established actors and rising talent. Cooper Tomlinson plays Eddy, one half of the fraudulent ghost-hunting duo. Curry Barker stars as the other investigator, Mouse. The supporting cast includes Violet McGraw and Chris Reinacher, whose specific roles have not been publicly detailed. Academy Award nominee Aaron Paul and acclaimed actor Bryce Dallas Howard round out the principal cast in significant supporting roles. The involvement of Paul and Howard demonstrates the film's increased industry standing following the commercial success of Obsession.

Production Companies and Financial Backing

Anything but Ghosts is backed by a coalition of prominent production companies specializing in genre filmmaking, reflecting confidence in the project's commercial potential. The primary producers are Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, the merged entity of Jason Blum's Blumhouse and James Wan's Atomic Monster, and Roy Lee and Steven Schneider's Spooky Pictures. They are joined by Divide/Conquer, the banner of producers Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath. The film is produced in association with Image Nation Abu Dhabi, a major Middle Eastern film fund, and That's a Bad Idea, the production company owned by Curry Barker and Cooper Tomlinson.

Executive producers include Daniel Bekerman, Barker himself, Tomlinson, and Ben Ross. This structure provided the film with a substantial production budget and studio-level marketing support, a significant step up from the micro-budget origins of Barker's earlier work. The financial model follows the proven low-budget, high-return strategy championed by Blumhouse, which aligned perfectly with Barker's history of creating highly profitable films from modest investments. The film's key producing entities each bring a specific expertise to the project.

• Blumhouse-Atomic Monster: Led by producer Jason Blum, known for low-budget, high-concept horror.
• Spooky Pictures: Production company of producers Roy Lee and Steven Schneider.
• Divide/Conquer: Banner of producers Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath.
• Image Nation Abu Dhabi: A Middle Eastern film fund providing financial backing.
• That's a Bad Idea: The production company owned by Curry Barker and Cooper Tomlinson.
• Focus Features: The studio holding worldwide distribution rights.

Release Strategy and Box Office Context

Focus Features scheduled Anything but Ghosts for a wide theatrical release on May 7, 2027, a date strategically chosen to mirror the mid-May release of Obsession in 2025. Focus Features holds worldwide distribution rights, with Universal Pictures International handling the international rollout. The release will place the film in direct competition with other major studio offerings, including Lionsgate's The Resurrection of the Christ (Part One) and 20th Century Studios' Beach Read. The film's performance will be closely watched, given the extraordinary precedent set by its predecessor.

The box office success of Obsession created enormous expectations for this follow-up. Obsession, made for less than $1 million, grossed an astounding $519 million worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing film ever acquired at a festival, surpassing The Blair Witch Project. It also demonstrated remarkable holding power, increasing its earnings by 39 percent in its second weekend. This performance established Curry Barker as a major new commercial filmmaker and made Anything but Ghosts one of the most anticipated genre releases of 2027. The financial details of Obsession provide a clear benchmark for the new film's potential.

Connection to <em>Obsession</em> and Barker's Filmmaking Career

Anything but Ghosts is inextricably linked to Curry Barker's breakout film, Obsession, both narratively and commercially. Barker has confirmed the two films exist within the same cinematic universe, allowing for potential narrative crossovers and a shared mythology. Obsession was a supernatural horror film about a lonely young man whose use of a mysterious wish-granting toy leads to bloody consequences, and it starred Michael Johnston and Inde Navarrette alongside Cooper Tomlinson. Its critical and financial success, including significant Oscar buzz for Navarrette, provided the foundation for the larger-scale production of Anything but Ghosts.

Barker's career trajectory is marked by rapid ascent from digital content to major studio filmmaking. His debut feature, Milk & Serial, was made for $800 and first streamed on YouTube, garnering nearly 3 million views. The move to Anything but Ghosts represents a natural progression, maintaining his collaborative partnership with Tomlinson while operating with greater resources and industry support. The film's production, though on a larger scale, still adhered to the fast-paced, efficient shooting style that defined his earlier work. Barker's filmography shows a consistent pattern of low-budget projects achieving high returns.

Questions about Anything but Ghosts

Who is producing Anything but Ghosts?

The film is produced by a consortium of major genre production companies. Jason Blum produces for Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, while Roy Lee and Steven Schneider produce for Spooky Pictures. Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath produce for Divide/Conquer. The film is also produced in association with Image Nation Abu Dhabi and Barker and Tomlinson's own company, That's a Bad Idea.

When is Anything but Ghosts being released?

Anything but Ghosts is scheduled to be released in theaters on May 7, 2027. The release date was set by Focus Features, which acquired worldwide distribution rights to the film in March 2026. Universal Pictures International will handle the film's international distribution. This date follows a similar late spring release pattern to director Curry Barker's previous hit, Obsession, which was released in May 2025.

What is the plot of Anything but Ghosts?

Anything but Ghosts follows two fake paranormal investigators who must face actual ghosts while dealing with the deception of their own fraudulent business. The film centres on fame seeking wannabe ghosthunters who find themselves in over their heads, causing events to spiral wildly and terrifyingly out of control. The story explores the consequences when their con artist operation encounters genuine supernatural forces. Cooper Tomlinson described the film as being 'like if Key and Peele walked into Hereditary,' blending comedy with intense horror. The narrative unfolds within the same fictional universe as director Curry Barker's previous film, Obsession.

Who are the main cast members of Anything but Ghosts?

The main cast of Anything but Ghosts includes Cooper Tomlinson as Eddy and Curry Barker as Mouse, who are the co leads and fake paranormal investigators. They are joined by actors Violet McGraw, Chris Reinacher, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Aaron Paul in significant roles. The casting announcements were made in April and June of 2026, with Reinacher joining the project last. This ensemble brings together established stars and rising talent for the horror comedy. The actors play the group of fame seeking ghosthunters whose scam leads them into genuine supernatural danger.

Where and when was Anything but Ghosts filmed?

Principal photography for Anything but Ghosts began on March 9, 2026, in Vancouver, Canada, and wrapped on April 11, 2026. The production used the working title Faraday during filming. The shoot lasted 26 days, during which director and star Curry Barker noted the challenging schedule of shooting a 130 page script. Barker mentioned that coverage was often compromised due to the tight timeline. This filming period followed the development and casting announcements made in late 2025 and early 2026.

How is Anything but Ghosts connected to Curry Barker's film Obsession?

Anything but Ghosts takes place in the exact same cinematic universe as Curry Barker's previous film, Obsession. Barker has confirmed this shared universe connection in interviews. Obsession was Barker's directorial debut, released in 2025, and became a major box office success for Focus Features. The new film continues Barker's creative partnership with Cooper Tomlinson, who also starred in Obsession. This connection establishes a growing franchise world for the filmmaker following the breakout success of his first feature.

Sources and further reading

• Anything but Ghosts (Wikipedia)
• Anything but Ghosts (2027) directed by Curry Barker (letterboxd.com)
• Curry Barker's 'Anything But Ghosts' Sets May 2027 ... (variety.com)
• Curry Barker's 'Anything But Ghosts' Release Date Set (deadline.com)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-24.