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No, you’re not having deja-vu: there really is a whole host of new remakes and reboots coming your way in 2016. There’s so many to choose from, so I’ve decided to focus on what I think are the most interesting and unusual in each genre.

But before I unleash my list, a question springs to mind: namely, why is Hollywood so fond of repeating itself? If you go into any coffee shop in town and toss an almond croissant in the air, it’s bound to hit several wannabe screen-writers on its way back down to the ground. So Hollywood isn’t short of original screenplays waiting to be transformed into box office gold by any stretch of the imagination.

Does Hollywood lack imagination then, or is it just less willing to take a punt on new material? The increasing amount of remakes released this year, and their varying commerical success, suggests a more shrewd move on the part of the Hollywood studios. You could say that remakes attract a guaranteed audience, with those who remember the originals turning out to see these new versions, even if they later declare “They don’t make ’em like they used to.” Plus, remakes can tempt a brand new audience into the cinema, even if they end up returning to the source material to see if it was executed better. Hollywood doesn’t seem too willing to gamble on the unknown, preferring to take a more calculated risk with remakes.

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One stand-out title from this year has to be MAD MAX FURY ROAD (2015) – though strictly not a remake itself, instead billed as the fourth installment for the franchise, the film built on the legacy created by the Mel Gibson-vehicles. In fact, MAD MAX FURY ROAD has topped a number of film critics’ polls in the Best Film category, proving that a good concept prevails even on its umpteenth outing. There are exceptions, however, as proved by the new FRANKENSTEIN‘s luke-warm reception.

So here’s my Top 20 list for your consideration:

With the eagerly-awaited female-centred GHOSTBUSTERS’ remake leading the way in 2016, other comedy classics are being dusted off and given a new lease of life:

1) GREMLINS has been on the slate for a long while. Existing fans will be reassured by the involvement of original screenwriter turned director Chris Columbus, who recently directed PIXELS. Speaking at this year’s CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Columbus told fans that the new film is “not a remake of the first movie at all … It’s the same universe, the same rules, same Gremlins, but not the same.’ Sounds like a brand new generation will be pining for their own Mogwai.

2) HONEY I SHRUNK THE KIDS. One of the film’s original crew members suggested as far back as 2010 that a reboot of the popular 80’s movie was on the cards. Unofficial sources have speculated that Mike Myers is to play Wayne Szalinski, the character originated by Rick Moranis, who reportedly retired from the industry to care for his sick wife.

3) THE NAKED GUN. It’s going to take a comedy powerhouse to equal Leslie Nielsen‘s anarchic turn as Lt. Frank Drebin, but THE HANGOVER’S Ed Helms reckons he can match the late Canadian comedian’s funny bones. Helms will play a relative of Drebin. This reboot is said to be in the same vein as the 2015’s VACATION, itself a reboot of NATIONAL LAMPOON’S VACATION series, which also starred Helms.

4) POLICE ACADEMY. A remake was announced in 2010. Funnymen duo Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, stars of Comedy Central‘s Key and Peele sketch show, have been linked to the project in the role of producers. But it’s hoped that they will also decide to star in the film too.

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5) PORKY’S. One of the original ‘gross out’ comedies, which paved the way for movies such as AMERICAN PIE, could be returning to cinemas. Controversial US broadcaster Howard Stern bought the film rights in 2002, but has since been tied up in legal battles over the flick.

Films like SAW (2004) and HOSTEL (2005) have tried to push the boundaries of horror, but other recent horror remakes have come across as a little tame compared to their gruesome originals. Horror fans get ready to scream … again.

6) AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON. No doubt there will be many fans of this 1981 cult classic who are dreading this remake, especially when they learn that it’s being given ‘a modern twist.’ Lets hope that the creators opt for prosthetics over CGI special effects, as the original took home the Best Make Up Oscar.

7) CABIN FEVER is already in post-production, so it looks like this one is definitely happening. Give or take changing a few deaths in the film, new director Travis Zariwny has made the executive decision to copy Eli Roth‘s original screenplay almost word for word, apparently. Proving he can’t keep away, Roth is onboard as executive producer.

8) THE CRAFT. A remake of the 90’s teen horror THE CRAFT will be hoping to cast its spell at the box office. The original film was about a group of high-school students who got involved in witchcraft. None of the old castmembers, or writer/director Andrew Fleming, have signed up for the new outing. Instead, Leigh Janiek, director of the disturbing HONEYMOON (2014), will take the reins.

9) HELLRAISER. Creator Clive Barker is writing the franchise’s new script, which he describes as a “reboot” rather than a remake. This film is said to focus Lemarchand, the character who made the mystery box that spawns horror icon Pinhead. Lemarchand might find himself locked up in penal colony ‘Devil’s Island,’ which Barker, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, believes is “a pretty cool place to start the movie.”

10) IT. Stephen King gave many people the heebee-jeebies about clowns, when he penned his novel ‘IT.’ THE REVENANT (2015) actor Will Poulter has been cast as killer clown Pennywise, the role made famous by Tim Curry in 1975’s THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW . It’s a big book, so this remake is being planned as a 2-parter. But, before you get your hopes up, Stephen King himself tweeted in May 2015 that “the remake of IT may be dead.” So, who knows?

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Sci-Fi fans will not be disappointed next year either.
11) ALIEN NATION. Not one, but several ALIEN NATION movies are in the pipeline at 20th Century Fox. The studio is looking to give the 1988 classic a PLANET OF THE APES’-style makeover to attract new fans. IRON MAN writers Art Marcum and Matt Holloway are working on the script.

12) THE BLACK HOLE. Another title that is envisioned as more of a ‘reboot’ than a remake, THE BLACK HOLE is languishing in development hell at the moment. Jon Spaihts, of PROMETHEUS fame, has provided a script which TRON: LEGACY director Joseph Kosinki seemed keen to develop. However, Kosinki put THE BLACK HOLE on the back-burner to sign up for directing duties on TRON 3, only to have Disney shut down the production.

13) EXPLORERS. Paramount Pictures has a remake of EXPLORERS in store. The 1985 film came courtesy of Joe Dante, who also gave us GREMLINS, and starred a young Ethan Hawke and River Phoenix. The producers of TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (2014) are involved – so this may hint at the direction the remake takes.

13) FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR. Another teen sci-fi movie, in the vein of EXPLORERS, FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR looks set to fly again. Colin Trevorrow, who scored success with SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED (2012), was lined up to direct. But then 2015’s JURASSIC WORLD came calling, and he’s now in charge of the lesser known STAR WARS: EPISODE IX, due out in 2019. Though Trevorrow has baled, he left behind a screenplay which he co-wrote with Derek Connolly, which was nice of him.

14) STARGATE. Ambitious plans are afoot for the STARGATE universe. After enjoying a TV spin-off, the sci-adventure is time-travelling back to the big screen in not 1 but a whole trilogy of new films. Director Roland Emmerich and writer/producer Dean Devlin are also buckling up for the reboot. Once they’ve saved the Earth again in their very belated sequel INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE (2016), the team can get on with re-launching STARGATE.

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15) TOXIC AVENGER. Arnold Schwarzenegger showed interest in having a supporting role in TOXIC AVENGER. But he jumped ship to make the head-scratchingly confusing TERMINATOR: GENISYS (2015) instead. Steve Pink (HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2, 2015) is undeterred, however, confirming that a script was completed earlier this year.

Are you sitting comfortably, FANTASY fans? Then I shall begin:
16) DISNEY have a new studio-policy which sees them transforming their back-catalogue of classics into live action remakes. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is one of them, and, with a release due on March 17, 2017, this one is definitely happening, folks. Emma Watson (HARRY POTTER’s Hermione) will play the Beauty to DOWNTON ABBEY’s Dan Stevens’ Beast (surely a misprint, no?) If you don’t believe an elephant can fly, you may not believe that a DUMBO remake is being mooted. None other than visionary director Tim Burton is said to be interested, but whether DUMBO is his next film, or the intriguing BEETLEJUICE 2 remains to be seen. And the studio has commissioned Laura Hynek and Elizabeth Martin to write a screenplay for the new live-action version of MULAN (1998.) Perhaps most exciting of all is an updated version of THE SWORD IN THE STONE (1963) – which could be given a GAME OF THRONES-esque spin by Bryan Cogman, a writer/producer on the epic TV series who’s busy writing the screenplay.

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17) THE CROW. Perhaps some production are cursed? Brandon Lee, the eponymous hero of the 1994 original, tragically died on set; and his successor Jack Huston has now departed, after being widely touted as taking on the role. James Barr, THE CROW’s comic book creator, remains optimistic though. And his optimism seems to have paid off, when it was announced in March 2015 that Cardiff’s Pinewood Studios will house the production.

18) DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS. Sometimes much loved kids’ classics don’t translate successfully to the big screen. A case in point is 2000’s DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS, which was followed up with 2 sequels that went straight-to-DVD. Again, legal battles have ensued, but both Warner Bros and Hasbro have pulled their lawyers of the case. David Leslie Johnson is in charge of the new script.

19) FLASH GORDON. Gordon’s alive, a FLASH GORDON remake may be winging its way to us! 20th Century Fox appear to have acquired the rights, and the scriptwriter team who worked on an early draft of STAR TREK BEYOND (2016) are polishing up their prose. Best of all, original lead Samuel J Jones is said to be very interested in slipping on his spandex costume once again, but maybe not to play Flash this time round.

20) JUMANJI. Unfortunately (or should that be fortunately?) the fate of the JUMANJI remake looks uncertain, following the tragic passing of star Robin Williams. DOCTOR WHO’s Karen Gillan implied on Twitter that she’s taking part. Fans wonder whether Kirstin Dunst will reappear, given that the film is being produced by 2014’s THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN 2‘s Matthew Tolbach?

Apologies to any titles I’ve left out. It was a mammoth list, but if you enjoyed reading this, perhaps I’ll be back with Part 2?

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4 COMMENTS

  1. Oh my days. A new Hell raiser might be interesting, but another police academy? I think it might be time for me to read more books instead. Can’t you make them stop?

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