If you’ve been following us closely for long enough, you’d notice that we’re big movie buffs. From good B grade ones to not-so-good B grade ones, to horror and even some gore. Yup, we spare no one and nothing when it comes to catching flicks. But imagine our surprise when we heard that some movies that we’ve previously watched have got reboots in the pipeline. Really unexpected ones, at that!
You should already know by now that “Robocop“, “Jurassic Park”, “Annie”, and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” got rebooted. Now check out some other old school flicks that have been rumoured to be getting the same treatment, whether you like it or not:
Honey, I Shrunk The Kids
So, this 80s kids film about bad parenting is getting a reboot. Or at least it has been rumoured to happen for years now. We’re not sure how this is going to happen or if any of the original cast members will return because Rick Moranis (who played Wayne Szalinski aka Dad) officially left the film industry in 1997. Also, actress Marcia Strassman (who played Diane Szalinski aka Mom) passed away in October this year after a long battle with breast cancer.
Our take? This reboot will only be worth watching if it’s going to be released in 3D. Game changer, anyone?
The Orphanage
2007 Spanish horror film “The Orphanage” (or “El Orfanato” in Spanish) still gives us the creeps. A debut feature of Spanish filmmaker J. A. Bayona, the plot centres on Laura, who returns to her childhood home, an orphanage. She convinces her husband to buy the place and help her convert it into a home for sick children. One day, her own adopted son, Simón, disappears. Simón is critically ill, and when he is still missing several months later, he is presumed dead. Grief-stricken Laura believes she hears spirits, who may or may not be trying to help her find the boy.
New Line Cinema bought the rights to produce an English-language remake with Guillermo del Toro as producer. In 2011, Guillermo del Toro stated that the remake would reflect his original vision for the film, and that it had been planned even when the first version was in production. It was later reported that American actress Amy Adams was in talks to star as Laura, the main character, who was played by Belén Rueda in the original film. The current incarnation of the remake screenplay had reportedly been written by Larry Fessenden and Sergio G. Sánchez, the sole writer of the original film.
Poltergeist
We’ve already mentioned this one in an earlier post. Some of you probably don’t even know that one of the greatest haunted house thrillers of all time is getting the remake treatment. Released in 1982, the now iconic horror movie was directed by Tobe Hooper from an original idea by producer Steven Spielberg. The remake of “Poltergeist” will see legendary filmmaker Sam Raimi and director Gil Kenan reimagining the classic tale about a struggling family whose suburban home was invaded by angry spirits that have abducted their youngest daughter.
You have time until 13th Feb 2015 to prepare to face ‘em cray cray ghosts.
It
This is also something we wrote about recently. Did you grow up hating clowns after watching this 1990 psychological horror/drama? So did we. But it’s time to relive your nightmare (read: Pennywise) all over again because they’re remaking “It”. According to Screen Rant, Warner Bros. has been planning a film adaptation of Stephen King’s 1,138 page novel “It” for the past 3 years. The last substantial report on the project was nearly 2 years ago, with an update from screenwriter David Kajganich (“The Invasion”, “Blood Creek”) about the challenge of fitting Stephen King’s massive literature into a 2-3 hour movie. The planned remake is still in its early stages, thus no casting news is yet to be reported.
Also, while Tim Curry gained praises for his astounding performance as Pennywise, he would most likely not come back to reprise his role for the “IT” movie remake. Fair enough, since Tim Curry is about 68 years old and he also suffered a stroke just last year.
Dirty Dancing
Last we heard, EW has confirmed that Lionsgate has pushed back its remake of “Dirty Dancing”. Original “Dirty Dancing” choreographer Kenny Ortega (responsible for “High School Musical” and Michael Jackson’s “This Is It”) is set to helm this new iteration, and Glee co-creator Brad Falchuk will write the screenplay with Maria Maggenti (of “Monte Carlo” fame). Deadline reported that casting decisions slowed the process and caused a delay but among the stars up for the roles of Baby and Johnny (first played by Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze): “Glee” warbler Lea Michele, Canadian chanteuse Nikki Yanofsky, and “Trespass’” Liana Liberato for Baby, and for Johnny “Nashville Star” vet (and former boyfriend of Miley Cyrus) Justin Gaston, “Brothers & Sisters’” star Luke Grime, and “Dancing With the Stars” Derek Hough — who coincidentally took home DWTS‘s famed Mirror Ball trophy with Grey in 2010.
The movie was originally slated to hit theatres on 26th July 2013, but now won’t open until 2014. Hmm, but 2014 is nearly over so..
I Know What You Did Last Summer
In case you missed it, here: In the summer 1996, four high-school seniors accidentally run over a pedestrian and try to dispose of the body. One year later, a hooded killer begins killing the teenagers in an apparent act of revenge. That’s the story of 1997’s “I Know What You Did Last Summer”, which grossed over USD125 million worldwide and spawned 2 sequels — “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer” (which grossed USD84 million) and the direct-to-video “I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer”. And now, the teen horror flick, a cult favourite from the 1990s, is all set for a reboot in 2016. Sony Pictures has tapped Oculus director Mike Flanagan to reboot “I Know What You Did Last Summer”. Sony-based Neil Moritz (who produced the 1997 title starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, and Freddie Prinze Jr) is on board to produce the reboot through his Original Artists banner. Flanagan will co-write the script with Jeff Howard.
To put it into perspective, it has been 17 summers after the first movie (18 summers after the “incident”). “I Know What You Did Last Summer” itself was based on a 1973 novel by Lois Duncan – that’s over 40 summers ago. So no, we don’t actually know why.
Police Academy
The “Police Academy” franchise spans 7 films over the course of a decade, beginning with 1984′s smash hit and petering out with 1994′s “Police Academy 7: Mission to Moscow”. Many well-known actors appeared in the franchise and lots of not-so-well-known actors became household names because of it. What? You thought that 7 “Police Academy” films were enough to last you a few lifetimes? Think again. In April 2014, Slashfilm reported that the “Police Academy” has just been given new life thanks to Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, best known for their Comedy Central sketch comedy show “Key and Peele”, have just been attached to produce a remake of the goofball 80s franchise about misfits training to become police officers. Director Scott Zabielski was long been attached to the remake, which is set up at New Line, but is no longer. There’s also no word if they’re using the latest draft of the script by writer Jeremy Garelick. Original producer Paul Maslansky is still, however, part of the film.
Cliffhanger
Stallone fans are going to be pleased to know that the perfectly fine 1993 action flick, “Cliffhanger”, is getting an update, thanks to producer Neal H Moritz. Nevermind that he’s also the same guy who produced “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer”. The original “Cliffhanger” centres on Sylvester Stallone as a mountain climbing rescuer who gets tied up in a heist of a US Treasury plane carrying millions – and that’s apparently in discussions to be “reimagined”, according to Deadline. The report also said that production company StudioCanal has a screenwriter on board to bring the movie back to life, though few details are available.
Also, Sylvester Stallone actually had a hand in the original screenplay, though it seems unlikely he’ll be cast for this unexpected reboot.
The Neverending Story
No, the “Neverending Story” hasn’t quite ended, it seems. Just in case you’ve forgotten this absolutely heart-wrenching story, the original 1984 film was directed by Wolfgang Petersen and the story follows a young boy who reads a fantasy book and ends up getting involved in the story. It spawned a few sequels, and holds a special place in the heart of many filmgoers because – for some – it was one of their earliest exposures to the world of fantasy, especially seen through the eyes of a young protagonist.
And who can forget that particular scene when Atreyu lost his beloved horse Artax to the swamp? That’s not something you forget, bro. Sob.