Will Hollywood ever stop developing remakes? The answer is no, as Sony Pictures is now remaking another classic horror movie.
The teenage weirdos from 1996’s “The Craft” will return to bewitch the mainstream audience because according to The Hollywood Reporter, Sony has hired up-and-coming horror film director Leigh Janiak to direct a remake of the cult horror movie.
“The Craft” is an American supernatural thriller film which was co-written and directed by Andrew Fleming. It centres on Sarah (played by Robin Tunney), a newcomer who arrives at a Catholic prep high school and befriends a trio of outcast teenage girls (played by Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell and Rachel True). Upon discovering Sarah’s telekinetic gift, the trio of amateur witches invite Sarah to form a coven of witches and together, they cast spells on their classmates and each other. However, they soon discover the downside to witchcraft as they get a taste of the negative consequences from their respective spells.
Despite its silly storyline, the film was a sleeper hit, with BoxOfficeMojo.com ranking it the 9th highest grossing movie in the genre of witches. It also became a cult favourite due to its occult and witchcraft concepts that have become popular in recent years.
Apart from directing the remake, Janiak will also be co-writing the script with her “Honeymoon” co-scribe, Phil Graziadei. Dough Wick the original producer of “The Craft” will return to produce the film with Lucy Fisher, the former vice chairman of Columbia Pictures.
Janiak proves to be a great choice for the remake, as she’s already impressed many with her debut horror film “Honeymoon”. The movie, which stars Rose Leslie (of “Game of Thrones” fame) and Harry Treadaway (of “Penny Dreadful” fame) as Paul and Bea, focuses on a pair of newlyweds who find their lake-country honeymoon descending into chaos after Paul finds Bea wandering aimlessly and disoriented in the middle of their first night. The movie premiered at SXSW and was promptly picked up by Magnolia Pictures.
Image source: moviemaker.com
Janiak is currently directing an upcoming episode of MTV‘s adaptation of “Scream” and her agreement to direct the remake couldn’t have come at a better time as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) recently accused Hollywood movie studios for discriminating female directors.
ACLU asked for an investigation regarding the “systemic failure to hire women directors at all levels of the film and television industry.”
“The Craft” isn’t the only supernatural thriller film to receive the remake treatment by Hollywood as the remakes of “The Entity“, “Gremlins“, “The Ring“, and “The Blob” are currently in the works too.
Who do you think should join the cast as Nancy, Bonnie, Rochelle and Sarah? Will the remake be as good, if not better than the original? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.