Curry Barker rejects $2M rewrite of Obsession, delays sequel

Director Curry Barker turned down a multimillion-dollar offer to alter the core of his breakout horror hit "Obsession," choosing creative integrity over a more conventional story, according to a recent interview. The filmmaker also confirmed he has a concept for a sequel but intends to wait before pursuing it.

Barker revealed that while shopping the project, some companies offered him $2 million to rewrite the script and transform the main character, Bear, into a traditional hero. He declined, stating that the film's tension and appeal stem from Bear's spiral of bad decisions after a magical wish goes wrong. The director said he turned down the money to tell the story he found more interesting.

That decision appears to have paid off. "Obsession," released in May, has become a major box office phenomenon. Made on a budget of approximately $750,000, the film has grossed roughly $300 million worldwide, setting records as a word-of-mouth hit. It stars Michael Johnston as Bear, a hopeless romantic who uses a mysterious "One Wish Willow" to make his crush Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette, fall in love with him, with dark consequences.

Despite the film's success and his newfound status...