The project, which will consist of 13 episodes, will be executive produced by Wan and his Atomic Monster production company, along with production banner Magical Elves. The latter is known for its award-winning reality competition series such as Top Chef and Project Runway.

"I can’t wait to discover the next, new talent in horror,” Wan said in a statement. “This competition is an exciting opportunity for up-and-coming horror directors to get noticed by the industry and audiences alike.”

For the series, 13 filmmakers will be chosen by a panel of leading horror directors, producers, writers and executives and presented with the challenge of creating the best, scariest short films possible. The winner will receive a once-in-a-lifetime development deal with New Line, often referred to as the House that Freddy Built, in reference to the Nightmare on Elm Street horror franchise that launched the company into prominence years ago. Over the years, New Line has produced scary movies ranging from the Final Destination series to the recent Stephen King adaptation, It.

The idea of rising to the top via shorts is something New Line and Atomic Monster have practiced and championed, launching the careers of David F. Sandberg and Michael Chaves. Sandberg directed his first feature, Lights Out, based on his own short, and moved on to helm Annabelle: Creation and the upcoming Shazam! Chaves was discovered through his short The Maiden and is now prepping The Curse of La Llorona for an April 2019 release.

"New Line has a proud history of horror and we’re eager to partner with filmmaker James Wan, Atomic Monster and Stage 13 to discover the boldest new voices in the genre that will thrill and excite audiences everywhere,” New Line president-COO Richard Brener and president-chief content officer Carolyn Blackwood said in a joint statement.

The Nun, the latest collaboration between Wan’s company and New Line, is now the most successful installment in the franchise, grossing over $330 million worldwide. The Conjuring Universe of horror movies has scared up over $1.68 billion globally.

“We want to discover the storytellers who are going to push the genre further and drive a new generation in horror fandom," said Stage 13 senior vp and GM Diana Mogollon. "Warner Bros., New Line Cinema, James Wan and the team at Atomic Monster are leaders in this space and we’re thrilled to be part of this project.”

Wan is repped by Paradigm Talent Agency, Stacey Testro International and David Fox at Myman Greenspan.