Heather Donahue will not be part of the Blair Witch Project reboot.
The 51-year-old star - who now goes by the name Rei Hance - has confirmed she won't be joining co-stars Josua Leonard and Michael C. Williams in being part the upcoming reboot of the 1999 found footage horror classic, which they are set to work on as executive producers, alongside the the original directing team of Eduardo Sánchez, Daniel Myrick and Gregg Hale.
Heather declined not to be part of the project because of "difficult long-term questions" about her rights and image.
She commented on Facebook: "There seems to be some willful confusion about my involvement with the reboot. I want to clarify that I am not participating.
“I was offered an agreement that, for me personally, raised difficult long-term questions about rights, future technological use of identity and voice, the ability to speak freely, and compensation. Ultimately, it just wasn’t something I felt comfortable signing. I genuinely wish everyone involved well. But preserving my autonomy mattered more to me.”
Her comment came after producer James Wan suggested "all the original people" from the horror favourite involved in director Dylan Clark's new project was important.
He told IndieWire: “Getting all the original people that were involved in the original Blair Witch, getting their blessing and getting them involved.
“That was very important for all of us. We wanted to pay respect to the legacy of it all.”
Williams previously declared he had "nothin' but gratitude" at being asked to be part of Clark's new film.
He wrote on X: "Nothin' but gratitude. Oh, yeah, it's not a 'remake'. You just wait. The Witch is back..."
Last summer, he hinted at his involvement in the new movie, but declined to give further details on his specific role behind the scenes.
He wrote on X at the time: "While I won't get into the details, I can say that after 26 years, I finally feel like a valued contributor to the world of The Blair Witch Project.
"Thank you @Lionsgate and @jason_blum! Thx to TBWP fans for your support! Found the map and we're definitely moving forward!"
The upcoming Blair Witch Project was announced at CinemaCon in 2024.
Lionsgate film boss Adam Fogelson promised "a new vision for Blair Witch that will reintroduce this horror classic for a new generation".
At the time, Leonard criticised Lionsgate and Blumhouse for not having any of the original film's team involved.
He wrote on Instagram at the time: "I’m so proud of our little punk-rock movie, and I LOVE the fans who keep the flames burning.
“But at this point, it’s 25 years of disrespect from the folks who’ve pocketed the lion’s share (pun intended) of the profits from OUR work, and that feels both icky and classless.”
The original follows three film students who disappear in the woods while shooting a documentary about the Blair Witch.
The movie was promoted through faux police reports and interviews with questions about "missing" students, which was intended to spark debate about whether or not the film was fiction or an actual documentary.
Back in 1999, The Blair Witch Project was made for just $35,000 before marketing costs, and made waves when it first debuted at Sundance Film Festival that year.
