ROB ZOMBIE AND THE LORDS OF SALEM

Even though he’s been circling his long-gestating-but-not-about-dinosaurs Tyrannosaurus Rex project and a blob-less remake of The Blob, Rob Zombie has announced Lords of Salem as his next film project, according to Deadline. It’s being produced by Haunted Films, which is the same company that made last year’s breakout hit, Paranormal Activity, as well as Insidious, a new film from the writer and director of the original Saw. Lords of Salem takes place in contemporary Salem, MA (if you’re not up to speed on the significance of that town to American history, read this), “where the inhabitants receive a demonic visit from a 300-year old coven of witches.” He’s writing the script during downtime on his current tour, which means he’s clearly giving it his full attention. (I kid, I kid.) But here’s the most interesting part… says Zombie:

“What excited me most was [producer Jason Blum] saying, you can have total control over the script, casting and final cut… I’ve had differing levels of control, with the best experience being Lionsgate on The Devil’s Rejects, when I made the movie and they said, `great.’ The two Halloween movies were more give and take, and I had enough bloody battles to get my way that by the time I got it, I didn’t care anymore.”

Zombie made the Halloween movies for Harvey and Bob Weinstein, who are notorious ballbreakers, and rumors persisted of their creative interference throughout the production of both of Zombie’s Halloween movies. I really liked The Devil’s Rejects and hated those Halloween flicks… is it possible it was really all the Weinsteins’ fault? I guess we’ll find out after Lords of Salem is released. But one thing we pretty much know for sure: Sheri Moon Zombie will play one of the witches, and will wear a skimpy costume.

-AR