‘Paranormal Activity 5’ pushed to 2015, gets a new title

The next movie in the “Paranormal Activity” franchise won’t be haunting theaters this Halloween after all — and, for that matter, it won’t be called “Paranormal Activity 5.”

Paramount Pictures has re-christened the chiller “Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension” and pushed its release to March 23; it had been slated to open next month.

As is usually the case with “Paranormal” movies, plot details are being kept under wraps.

“Ghost Dimension” actually marks the sixth installment of the “Paranormal” series, which released the spin-off sequel “Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones” in January. Aimed at Latino audiences, the film grossed $32 million domestically and added $58 million overseas — the lowest totals yet for a “Paranormal” movie, but still a solid return on a budget of about $6 million.

It isn’t easy for studios to keep up the rigorous pace of modern-day horror franchises while still maintaining their freshness or originality. A “Paranormal” predecessor, the “Saw” series, began to run into challenges at a similar point in its life cycle.

To make room for “Ghost Dimension” on its new date, Paramount has also nudged forward Christopher Landon’s horror-comedy “Scouts vs. Zombies,” which previously inhabited the spot, to Feb. 20.

On their new dates, “Ghost Dimension” will open against “Cinderella” and “Heart of the Sea,” while “Scouts” will open against “The Gunman,” “Jane Got a Gun” and “McFarland, USA.”

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