In my last article, there were so many remakes and reboots mooted for next year, that I had to leave a lot of genres out. But I’m back to right that wrong, so let’s take a closer look at The Best Of The Rest’s Top 20.
ACTION
1) Let’s kick off with a John Carpenter double-bill, shall we? Big news as a remake of BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA (1986) is planned for late 2016, starring none other than Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson himself, in the lead role originated by Carpenter regular Kurt Russell. Johnson has already expressed his hopes that Carpenter will be involved in the project in some form. The screenplay is in the safe hands of writing duo Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz, who gave us the scripts for THOR (2011), X MEN: FIRST CLASS (2011) and the recently announced TOP GUN 2.
Before Kurt Russell got himself into big trouble in little China, he starred in Carpenter’s 1997-set ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK (1981), as the awesomely named Snake Plissken, a convicted felon sent to rescue the US President from the maximum-security prison that the Big Apple has become. Carpenter will be executive producing, and Joel Silver (better known as a hot-shot action movie producer) will be directing. It’s envisaged that the remake will herald a new series of Escapes.
2) Jean-Claude Van Damme scores himself a hat-trick of remakes next year, although there’s no mention of him starring in the re-visit of BLOODSPORT (1988). TAKEN 2 (2012) co-writer Robert Mark Kamen is taking care of the script; and, at one point, Phillip Noyce (SALT, 2010) had signed on the dotted line to direct, but his involvement is now in doubt.
Fear not, though, as the ‘Muscles From Brussels’ will be appearing in a reboot of KICKBOXER (1989). Van Damme, who stepped in to save the day when Tony Jaa pulled out, will play Master Durand in KICKBOXER: VENGEANCE. WWE star Dave Bautista, also known as Drax from GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014), is the excellently-named Tong Po. John Stockwell, an actor who appeared in TOP GUN (1986) and Stephen King‘s killer-car horror CHRISTINE (1983) will direct. Stockwell has dabbled in directing before, and is probably best known for the 2002 surfing movie BLUE CRUSH.
TIME COP (1994) was a big hit for Van Damme. But apparently the film’s sci-fi angle will take a backseat, in a new version by JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND (2012) writers Mark and Brian Gunn. It should be interesting to see how this one pans out.
3) Before Sylvester Stallone started advertising loaves, some thought his 1993 mountain-climbing movie CLIFFHANGER was the best thing since sliced bread. Although things didn’t work out for its sequel THE DAM, a CLIFFHANGER remake has been on the cards since 2009. FAST & FURIOUS (2009) producer Neal H Moritz has buckled up for the ride; and screenwriter and novelist Joe Gazzam (21 JUMP STREET, 2012) was hired to write the script in 2014. Who will replace Renny Harlin as director remains to be seen.
4) COMMANDO (1985), originally starring that other 80’s action heavyweight Arnold Schwarzenegger, may just well be called in to action again. Fox snapped up the film rights in 2010; and, at the time, SUICIDE SQUAD (2016) screenwriter David Ayer said the new commando would have less brawn and more brains, being highly skilled in covert operations and a wizard with weaponry. Then Ayer distance himself from the project last year, perhaps because the future commando got wind of his comments about brain-power?
5) ROAD HOUSE (1989) spawned the little-seen sequel ROAD HOUSE 2: THE LAST CALL, back in 2006, which seems to have sunk without a trace. The Patrick Swayze-starring original was put forward for a remake at the end of 2013, but since then things have gone quiet on the ROAD HOUSE front. B Movie writer Michael Stokes has written a script, and Rob Cohen, from the Jennifer Lopez-in-peril project THE BOY NEXT DOOR (2015) was lined up to direct. But then MGM had to do the math and sort its finances out, so time at the bar might just have been called on this one.
THRILLERS
1) European thrillers are big business for television, and Jo Nesbo‘s 2011 Norwegian-set HEADHUNTERS sparked a bidding war when the film rights came up for sale. ANVIL (2008) director Sacha Gervasi has penned a script, and Mark Wahlberg is said to be interested in appearing. However, you’ll need to do your best detective work to track down any recent developments.
2) Don’t have nightmares, but JACOB’S LADDER (1990) may very well be resurrected by director James Foley, perhaps ahead of his FIFTY SHADES DARKER (2017) and FIFTY SHADES FREED (2018). This eerie psychological thriller, starring Tim Robbins, was originally director by Adrian Lyne, of FATAL ATTRACTION (1987) fame. Jake Wall and Jeff Buhler have written the screenplay, but progress seems to have stalled on this one since it was suggested back in 2013.
3) John Woo looks set to wow with a remake of the 1976 Japanese thriller, MANHUNT. The story follows the attempts of a prosecutor, framed for robbery and sexual assault, to clear his name. Woo has assured his fans that he will go ‘back to basics’ and return to his original style of filmmaking.
4) Movie makers don’t seem to have very good memories: the Oscar-nominated MEMENTO (2000) put director Christopher Nolan‘s name on the movie map just 15 years ago, paving the way for him to direct the mighty INCEPTION (2010) and THE DARK KNIGHT (2008). ‘Pass the parcel’ has been played with the film rights: first they were owned by its producer, Newmarket Films; then the company was bought by the Exclusive Media Group in 2009; and now E.M.G. has been acquired by Ambi Pictures, so they’re the ones to hold responsible for this.
5) Director Brian De Palma must have enjoyed working with Al Pacino on the sets of SCARFACE (1983) and CARLITO’S WAY (1993) so much so that he looks set to once again team up with the star in RETRIBUTION – a remake of the Belgian movie THE MEMORY OF A KILLER (2003). The film, about a cop and a hitman trying to bring down a child prostitution ring, will not be an easy sell; and both De Palma and Pacino have been trying to secure funding for the project since last year. Incidentally, a third remake of SCARFACE (following in the footsteps of De Palma’s remake of Howard Hawks’ 1932 original) is also in the works, with JACKIE (2017) director Pablo Larrain at the helm, and Martin Bregman, one of the original producers on De Palma’s version, back to co-produce.
CLASSICS
1) Sometimes you just shouldn’t go there, as they say, and Alfred Hitchcock‘s back catalogue seems to be a prime example to leave well alone. Remakes of not one, but two Hitchcock classics are being bandied about: 1963’s THE BIRDS and 1951’s STRANGERS ON A TRAIN.
As far as THE BIRDS is concerned, I have two words for you: Michael Bay! Yes, Platinum Dunes, the company owned by Michael ‘TRANSFORMERS (2007)’ Bay will be heading up this Hitchcock remake. It will be the English-language debut of Amsterdam-based director Diederik Van Rooijen.
At the beginning of January 2015, director David Fincher and writer Gillian Flynn, the team behind 2014’s GONE GIRL, were down to deliver a remake of STRANGERS ON A TRAIN. Both Fincher and Flynn are very much in demand, so this remake is dependent on them finding room in their busy schedules, as Flynn herself has noted.
2) The remake of the epic BEN HUR (1959) is in post-production as we speak, and is due for release in March 2016 – so this one is definitely happening. Now known as BEN-HUR, Timur Bekmambetov, the man behind the revolutionary NIGHT WATCH (2004) and DAY WATCH (2006), is directing. The original film lasted for a bum-numbing 3 and a half hours – whether the new running time will equal the original is not yet known.
3) DAS BOOT (1981), the submarine-set film from Wolfgang Petersen, was followed up with a six-part TV series four years later, which was also directed by Petersen. Now, Germany’s Bavaria Studios have bought the rights – but are as yet unsure whether to turn it into another film or TV series.
4) Don’t look now, but a remake of Seventies horror DON’T LOOK NOW (1973) is hoping to haunt you. Right now, there’s no director or writer attached, but the Picture Company has already pitched the idea to Studio Canal. The original was director by Nicholas Roeg, and starred Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie, so these are big shoes to fill.
5) Some premises are re-visited again and again, and NOSFERATU is no exception. F. W. Murnau‘s iconic 1922 original, starring Max Shreck as vampire Count Orlok, was based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula novel. Fifty-seven years later, Wernog Herzog gave us his version which he wrote and directed, now entitled NOSFERATU THE VAMPIRE (1979), starring his regular collaborator Klaus Kinski as Count Dracula. Since then, an Italian remake of the film surfaced in 1990. And an episode of the wonderfully-named WOLF MAN MAC’S CHILLER DRIVE IN was dedicated to the character of NOSFERATU. Now production and costume designer-turned-direct Robert Eggers is said to be in the frame to direct an as-yet-untitled remake. So far, Eggers has only 1 feature-length directing credit to his name, namely 2015’s THE WITCH, starring Ralph Ineson, aka ‘Finchy’ from sitcom THE OFFICE.
AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST…
1) ANIME: NON-STOP (2014) director Jaume Collet-Sera was going to direct a live-action remake of AKIRA (1988) but he’s now jumped ship, as it were. Warner Bros dropped the title due to budgeting issues, but now the studio is back on board. Netflix’s DAREDEVIL showrunner Marco J. Ramirez has won the screenwriting role.
Although a new animated chapter in the anime series GHOST IN THE SHELL: THE NEW MOVIE was released this year, Scarlett Johansson takes the lead in a live-action remake of the 1995 original. Rupert Sanders, who’s been a little quiet since SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN (2012), directs. The film is in pre-production right now, and scheduled for release in April 2017.
2) FAMILY: PETE’S DRAGON (1977) was a Disney musical that mixed live-action with animation, in the same vein as Disney’s family favourite BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS (1971). Now, a new remake, starring JURASSIC WORLD’s Bryce Dallas Howard, will be hoping to cast a spell over a whole new generation. According to his resume, director David Lowery seems to have worked in every film department possible, from editing to visual effects, and everything in between. Lowery is perhaps best known for AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS (2013) , starring Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck, which I’m a little embarrassed to say that I’ve never heard of until now. PETE’S DRAGON is currently in pre-production, and has been earmarked for released in next August.
“Johnny 5 is alive!” And so are plans for a remake of SHORT CIRCUIT (1986), or at least they were: there’s been no ‘new’ news on this one for a while, so I’m wondering if this robot-based feature has malfunctioned? SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS writer Tim Hill has been hired to director, meaning he can add the title to his portfolio of family-friendly flicks, including MUPPETS IN SPACE (1999) and ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS (2007). Distributor Dimension Films are behind this one: they gave us the SPY KIDS trilogy, but also SIN CITY 1 and 2; so when they say Johnny 5 will be ‘edgier’ – does that mean that our loveable robot-hero will now be a gun-toting wiseguy?
Hold onto your sides in case they split, as Sony have said that the new STUART LITTLE will be ‘more comedic’ than the 1999 original, and its 2002 and 2005 follow-ups. And that’s all that Sony seem to be saying for now.
3) WAR: ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930) won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director, so DANTE’S PEAK (1997) director Roger Donaldson is going to have his work cut out for him, in what is billed as a ‘re-adaptation,’ rather than a remake, of Erich Maria Remarque‘s 1929 novel. HARRY POTTER himself, Daniel Radcliffe, was once said to be involved, but has now gone AWOL from the production.
4) WESTERN: Will the THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN remake be magnificent, or not? Denzel Washington teams up again with his TRAINING DAY (2001) director Antoine Fuqua and co-star Ethan Hawke, to head up a capable cast including Chris Pratt, Peter Sarsgaard and Matt Bomer. Fuqua also directed Washington in THE EQUALIZER (2014) so they’ll be hoping it’s a case of ‘3rd time lucky’ when the film’s released in September 2016.
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (1960) is itself a remake of Akira Kurosawa‘s classic THE SEVEN SAMURAI (1954). The almighty Weinstein Company have reportedly hired Rob Letterman to direct a new version of Letterman previously wrote and directed SHARK TALE (2004) and MONSTERS VS. ALIENS (2009), and also directed the Jack Black-vehicles GULLIVER’S TRAVELS (2010) and GOOSEBUMPS (2015). Will Jack Black embrace his Samurai side for this remake? Surely this is some kind of mistake?
5) Things that make you go ‘Hmmm?’ In my final category, I’d like to tell you about plans to refresh THE MUMMY and TOMB RAIDER franchises. I’ve linked these 2 together because I think both films are intrinsically linked to their respective stars, Brendan Fraser and Angelina Jolie-Pitt. You’ve probably heard by now that Tom Cruise has said ‘yes’ to tackling a new version of THE MUMMY – an unusual move for a star who likes to headline his own franchises. This version sounds grittier though – with a group of Navy Seals hired to find a group of terrorist, who just happen to be hiding in a centuries-old tomb masquerading as a bunker. Triple threat director/writer/producer Alex Kurtzman will take the reins on this one, alongside another outing of VAN HELSING, which Kurtzman is also writing and producing.
To date, the new TOMB RAIDER does not yet have a Lara Croft, or a director, for that matter. But it does have a script, by DIVERGENT’s Evan Daugherty. Warner Bros will be distributing GK FILMS’ reboot, which is hoped to emulate the videogames successful comeback.
THE ONE THAT (NEARLY) GOT AWAY.
If there is one film that has proven to be un-remake-able thus far, then LOGAN’S RUN (1976) is that film. Plans for a remake descended to ‘development hell’ way back in the mid-Nineties. Since then, a ‘who’s who’ of directors, including Bryan Singer and Nicholas Winding Refn, have been and gone. And five years ago, Ryan Gosling looked game, but he’s now looked elsewhere and opted out. X MEN: APOCALYPSE (2016) writer/producer Simon Kinberg is currently working on the film’s treatment. Has LOGAN’S RUN defeated the Hollywood movie-making machine? Watch this space…
