The director behind this year’s breakout horror hit Obsession has unveiled his next project, and it arrives with a firm date on the calendar. Curry Barker’s upcoming film Anything But Ghosts is set to hit theaters worldwide on May 7, 2027, according to an official press release. Positioned within the same universe as Obsession yet reimagined as a horror-comedy, the film follows an entirely new cast of characters who nonetheless find themselves navigating some seriously spooky circumstances.
The announcement marks a bold tonal pivot for Barker, who delivered a straight-faced, critically acclaimed scare-fest with Obsession earlier this year. Anything But Ghosts instead leans into comedy, centering on two fake paranormal investigators who are suddenly confronted with genuine, real-life ghosts. Per the press release, the situation causes things to “spiral wildly and terrifyingly out of control,” blending genuine dread with comedic chaos in a way that has already generated buzz among genre fans.
A Star-Studded Cast of Faux Ghost Hunters
Anything But Ghosts assembles a formidable ensemble, starring Bryce Dallas Howard and Aaron Paul alongside Violet McGraw, Chris Reinache, and Cooper Tomlinson. Tomlinson notably returns to the Obsession universe, reprising his role as Ian, the best friend of character Bear. Barker himself also appears in the cast, teaming up with Tomlinson as the film’s two con-artist paranormal hucksters.
Speaking on a June episode of Raiders of the Lost Podcast, Tomlinson confirmed the duo’s roles and offered a vivid pitch for the film’s tone. “It’s a buddy comedy, you know, about these two guys, and it turns really scary,” he said. “It’s about these con artist ghost hunters who encounter real ghosts, and then they have to step up and be the thing that they promised this family.” He described the result as “if Key and Peele walked into Hereditary,” a comparison that neatly captures the film’s blend of raucous comedy and genuine horror.
“It’s a buddy comedy, you know, about these two guys, and it turns really scary. It’s about these con artist ghost hunters who encounter real ghosts, and then they have to step up and be the thing that they promised this family.”
Cooper Tomlinson, Raiders of the Lost Podcast
Production Powerhouses Return for a Second Collaboration
Both Barker and Tomlinson are producing and co-writing Anything But Ghosts, which is being produced by Focus Features and Blumhouse-Atomic Monster. Focus holds the film’s worldwide rights, while Universal Pictures International handles international distribution for the studio. This marks the second time the two production houses have partnered on a Barker film; they previously collaborated on Obsession, which released to rave reviews earlier this year.
The stakes are high for Barker’s next offering, given the extraordinary commercial performance of his previous work. Obsession became one of the world’s most profitable films relative to its budget in film history, earning both critical acclaim and the status of an instant horror classic. Inde Navarrette’s standout performance as catapulted her to international fame, helping her land the role of Rogue in Marvel’s X-Men reboot and placing Barker firmly in the hotseat for studios eager to attach themselves to his future projects.
For viewers familiar with Barker and Tomlinson’s humorous YouTube videos, their delightful on-screen chemistry is expected to shine throughout Anything But Ghosts. With hard-hitters like Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul and Jurassic World’s Bryce Dallas Howard in the mix, there is no telling what hijinks the pair will get up to, though the comedic payoff appears all but guaranteed. Given how creepy Obsession managed to be on such a modest budget, the Hereditary-adjacent dread may well deliver a few genuine scares alongside the laughs.
Looking Ahead
With a firm theatrical release date now locked in for May 7, 2027, Anything But Ghosts has time to build momentum before it reaches screens. Fans of Barker’s work now have a clear milestone to anticipate, as the director seeks to prove that his talent for crafting memorable horror can translate across genres. Until then, the world can only speculate on how the two fake ghost hunters fare when confronted with the real thing.
Join the conversation