George Armitage, acclaimed director of notable films such as Miami Blues and Grosse Pointe Blank, was once slated to helm the iconic horror film Witchboard. His unique vision for blending suspense with character-driven narratives made him a standout figure in the film industry.

Recently, we shared the unfortunate news about the passing of George Armitage, who left us at the age of 82. He gained recognition in the entertainment realm in the early 1970s, beginning his career by writing the film Gas-s-s for the influential producer Roger Corman. Armitage went on to write and direct Private Duty Nurses and contributed his writing talents to Night Call Nurses, both of which were also produced by Corman. By the end of the 1970s, he had made a name for himself with the writing and directing of films like Hit Man and Vigilante Force, as well as the TV movie Hot Rods. He created scripts for Darktown Strutters and penned an episode for the TV series Monty Nash. Interestingly, the 1980s saw Armitage take a step back from directing and writing, despite his strong desire to continue making films. The writer/director Kevin Tenney, known for the 1986 horror classic Witchboard, revealed that Armitage was initially set to direct that film!

Tenney shared on social media, “I penned my first feature script during an undergraduate screenwriting class at the prestigious USC School of Cinematic Arts. The screenplay, a supernatural thriller titled Ouija, was inspired by my budding romance with my future wife, Susan, whose roommate’s boyfriend was keen on producing a horror film. He expressed interest in my script, and within a week, he and his partner offered me $1,000 for a one-year option. I felt like I had struck gold! They then brought on an emerging director named George Armitage, who had experience with low-budget thrillers from Roger Corman. We exchanged a few phone calls, and he eventually requested to meet in person. I anticipated numerous story revisions, but he surprised me by expressing his admiration for the script in its current form. He simply wanted to connect with me, and I found him to be incredibly approachable and friendly. I was eager to collaborate with him. Unfortunately, the producers faced financial issues, leading George to pursue more prominent opportunities, including directing Miami Blues with Alec Baldwin and Grosse Pointe Blank featuring John Cusack and Dan Aykroyd. Meanwhile, I transitioned to graduate school, and after the original Ouija option lapsed, it was acquired and produced by a different company, with me stepping in to direct. The film was eventually released by Samuel Goldwyn Films under the new title Witchboard. With George’s passing last week, I felt a strong urge to commemorate his life. While his influence on cinema may not have been monumental, Grosse Pointe Blank holds a special place in my heart, having watched it countless times. He played a crucial role in my cinematic journey, and I will always remember him fondly, regretting that our collaboration was so brief.”

It makes one ponder how George Armitage would have interpreted Witchboard. Nevertheless, the outcome was favorable for both parties involved. As previously mentioned, Tenney successfully directed the film, crafting one of my all-time favorite horror experiences, while Armitage went on to create his most celebrated works. His final directing credit was for the 2004 adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s novel, The Big Bounce, which starred Owen Wilson. Interestingly, none of the projects in his directing portfolio belonged to the horror genre, showcasing his versatility in filmmaking.

If you are a fan of George Armitage, do you wish you could have seen his vision for Witchboard? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.