As a die-hard horror fan with a deep appreciation for the chilling tales that haunt our dreams, I can’t help but feel a palpable sense of excitement at the prospect of these upcoming reboots. Mike Flanagan, with his uncanny ability to weave supernatural horror into captivating narratives, seems like an inspired choice to breathe new life into “The Exorcist.” His passion for the original is evident, and I can’t wait to see how he will reimagine this classic tale of terror.
Revitalizing, reworking, or fundamentally changing a cherished piece of creative property can sometimes be a challenging task. History is full of rebooted intellectual properties that are merely lazy attempts by Hollywood to exploit a franchise that has already been milked dry for money. A notable instance is the 2017 rendition of “Flatliners,” a remake so poorly executed that The Australian labeled it as “an illustration of how evolution doesn’t necessarily lead to improvement over time.
But while the worst movie remakes can feel like watered-down versions of the original, movies like “Ocean’s Eleven” (2001), “The Fly” (1986), and “Dawn of the Dead” (2004) continue to remind us that at its best, a quality remake brings a fresh perspective and vision to a franchise. While not every reimagining or so-called “legacy sequel” can be as good as “Mad Max: Fury Road” or Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune,” the upcoming crop of remakes and reboots looks promising.
Superman
Nearly a century has elapsed since the debut of Superman in the first comic book in 1938, portrayed by Kirk Alyn as the Man of Steel in Columbia Pictures’ 15-part serial of 1948 – the franchise’s initial live-action adaptation. However, it was far from the only time Superman would grace the big screen. In the ensuing years, he has made numerous appearances on the silver screen, such as in the 1951 film “Superman and the Mole Men” starring George Reeves, the Christopher Reeve era which started in 1978, the Brandon Routh-led “Superman Returns,” and Henry Cavill’s “Man of Steel” period that began in 2013. Additionally, there have been television adaptations like “Smallville” and “Lois and Clark.
To maintain pace with Marvel’s success, DC is planning a fresh take on the Superman franchise, scheduled for release in July 2025. Director James Gunn, who has previously worked in the superhero genre with films like “Guardians of the Galaxy” for Marvel and “The Suicide Squad” for DC, is at the helm of this project. Filming was completed in July 2024. In this new interpretation, Superman will be approximately 25 years old, navigating his identity as a human adoptee with an extraterrestrial background, searching for his role in the world. The cast includes David Corenswet as Superman, Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, and Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane.
Highlander
In the 1986 movie “Highlander,” featuring Sean Connery, we’re introduced to a unique concept where certain individuals possess a power called the ‘Quickening,’ turning them into immortals upon experiencing unnatural and violent deaths. The only way to eliminate these immortals is by beheading. Over time, they engage in an eternal battle that spans centuries, with the winner gaining control over the collective power of all immortals. This movie led to several sequels, with the latest one released in 2007. The story was also continued on the popular television series “Highlander: The Series,” starring Adrian Paul, which ran for six seasons before it concluded. A brief spinoff series titled “Highlander: The Raven” aired in syndication during 1998.
Ever since that point, it appears that one adaptation has struggled in pre-production limbo and ultimately been abandoned. As far back as 2009, the director of “Fast and Furious,” Justin Lin, was associated with a revival of “Highlander.” Later in 2011, Melissa Rosenberg, who had worked on “Twilight,” joined the project to give it a try.
To the delight of franchise enthusiasts, it was made known in 2023 that “Highlander” would undergo a $100 million revamp by Lionsgate. Henry Cavill is set to play the leading role as the titular Scot, with “John Wick” director Chad Stahelski steering the project. This new endeavor will serve as a prequel and filming is scheduled to commence in January 2025, with a potential release in 2026. During CinemaCon in 2024, Cavill hinted that the movie would explore intricate details of “Highlander” history.
Masters of the Universe
It’s surprising that a fantasy series based on ’80s toys like “Masters of the Universe,” which includes characters like He-Man and She-Ra, could have such intricate and detailed worldbuilding. Yet, since their inception in 1982, this franchise has produced numerous comic books, TV shows, and a film, despite the movie not being successful.
The movie, featuring Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and early appearances by Courteney Cox and Robert Duncan McNeill, was once described as a mix between “Conan” and “Star Wars” that was heavily influenced. Now, with the success of shows like “She-Ra and the Princesses of Power” on Netflix and “Masters of the Universe: Revelation” by Kevin Smith, the franchise is poised for a comeback in an upcoming live-action production by Amazon and MGM, following past unsuccessful attempts at reviving the “Masters of the Universe” film series.
In the upcoming movie, Nicholas Galitzine will portray He-Man, Alison Brie will take on the role of Evil-Lyn, Skeletor’s wicked ally and friend, while Camila Mendes will play Teela. Travis Knight has been appointed as the director for this superhero fantasy set to hit theaters on June 5, 2026. Chris Butler, who collaborated with Knight in the past on “ParaNorman” and “Kubo and the Two Strings,” is working together with him on the script for this project.
Clue
Watching “Clue” today is an absolute must for anyone wanting to experience the humor from the 80s, featuring memorable moments and side-splitting performances by stars like Tim Curry, Michael McKean, Christopher Lloyd, Lesley Ann Warren, and Martin Mull. Although it was initially a box office flop upon release, it eventually gained popularity and is now considered a cult classic. Over time, it led to a stage adaptation that ran nationwide, as well as references on shows such as “Family Guy,” “Psych,” “CSI: NY,” “Odd Squad,” and “Adventure Time.
Efforts to revive “Clue” have been struggling since 2009, when Gore Verbinski, known for directing “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “The Ring,” was linked to an adaptation. The project has gone through various studios, from Universal to 20th Century Fox, and eventually landed with Sony. Initially, Ryan Reynolds and Jason Bateman were involved in the production, but they have since moved on to other projects.
By September 2024, there were reports that “Barbarian” director Zach Cregger was considering taking on the role of director. Simultaneously, Shay Hatten, the writer for “Army of the Dead,” was set to write the script. However, it appears that Cregger might have shifted his focus to another Sony project, creating uncertainty regarding the film’s direction and cast, with crucial aspects such as who will direct and act in the movie yet to be decided by fall 2024. Despite this, the project seems to still be progressing.
The Six Million Dollar Man
A long-awaited movie adaptation of the 1970s action-spy series “The Six Million Dollar Man,” which stars Lee Majors as Colonel Steve Austin, is currently in development limbo. The original show revolves around an astronaut who undergoes a total bionic makeover after sustaining severe injuries during a NASA test flight. With his incredible new cybernetic enhancements, Colonel Austin takes on assignments for a covert government organization.
The long-running show, known to many, spanned five seasons and later gave birth to the three-season series “The Bionic Woman” in 1976, along with some made-for-TV films. Given its success, it’s understandable that television executives would want to exploit more of its potential. A reboot of “Bionic Woman” in 2007 appeared promising, but its short run of eight episodes faced severe criticism before it was ultimately axed.
Despite multiple attempts to revive the initial series not yet coming to fruition, Mark Wahlberg remains dedicated to resurrecting the franchise. Wahlberg, who’s been linked with the project since 2014, provided an update in 2024, stating to ComicBook, “I have one superhero movie concept that I’m passionate about, and it’s ‘The Six Billion Dollar Man,’ which is a more recent version of the original title ‘The Six Million Dollar Man,’ due to inflation.
Resident Evil
Transforming the interactive storytelling style of most video games into movies can be quite challenging, and this might explain why many video game films often fail at the box office. For enthusiasts of the widely acclaimed Japanese zombie horror game “Resident Evil,” turning the narrative into a full-length film has always been a demanding task. For those unfamiliar, the movie series so far incorporates elements inspired by Alice in Wonderland within a grimy biopunk universe, where the Umbrella Corporation’s biohazard lab accidentally unleashes a zombie virus with catastrophic consequences beneath Raccoon City.
The “Resident Evil” movie series, which features Milla Jovovich as the amnesiac hero Alice in six out of seven live-action films, has earned mostly positive box office returns and developed a dedicated fan base. However, Netflix’s 2022 reboot, featuring Lance Reddick, failed to continue the franchise’s success and was canceled after just one season. Despite being more accurate to the source material than the film versions, the series didn’t resonate with viewers.
As a die-hard fan of the original Resident Evil films, I can’t help but feel a glimmer of excitement. The world between these movies and the game series could potentially be more interconnected, and it seems like things are moving in that direction. It’s still just speculation for now, but director Zach Cregger, known for his work on “Barbarian,” might just be gearing up to breathe new life into this universe with a potential Resident Evil reboot. Interestingly enough, he reportedly turned down an offer to work on the new Clue film in favor of focusing on Resident Evil instead.
Little Shop of Horrors
In 1986, the musical comedy “Little Shop of Horrors” was released, a spin-off from the off-Broadway play and 1960 horror-comedy film. The film became popular largely due to the amusing acts of Rick Moranis and Steve Martin. Both versions revolve around Seymour Krelborn (Moranis), an unlucky, downtrodden florist shop employee who struggles with a tyrannical boss and unrequited feelings for his attractive colleague, Audrey (Ellen Greene). Seymour discovers a strange plant after a solar eclipse that draws crowds from all over. However, the downside is that the plant has an insatiable appetite for human flesh.
The classic source material is set to receive a fresh take titled “A Spooky Halloween Store”, as sources close to the project hint at this version being closer in spirit to the original movie rather than its musical spin-off. The upcoming production, slated for fall 2024, will be helmed by horror-comedy mastermind Joe Dante, famous for “Gremlins” and “The Burbs”, and is aimed at potentially kickstarting a brand new series.
Spawn
Enthusiasts of Todd McFarlane’s dark comic book character Spawn have been eagerly anticipating a screen reboot for quite some time now. Although it appears they may need to be patient for a while longer, McFarlane hints that the project is likely to progress in the future. The narrative of Spawn blends demonic and supernatural aspects into the story of a former CIA agent who made a Faustian bargain to transform into a vigilante empowered by demons.
Attempts to release a follow-up to the 1997 movie have been stalled in pre-production for many years now. It was rumored that by 2017, Blumhouse Productions was planning to produce it with Jamie Foxx as the main character. However, due to factors like the pandemic, strikes, and typical Hollywood delays, these plans haven’t materialized yet.
It’s promising to see progress being made on the “King Spawn” script, as confirmed by McFarlane. Scott Silver and others have been diligently working on it, and McFarlane is optimistic about its direction. He mentioned that the writers are not fully content with their work yet, which is common among creative individuals. Additionally, following the trend of recent superhero productions like “Deadpool” and “Wolverine,” “King Spawn” will be an R-rated film.
Blade
In a Marvel tale filled with supernatural elements, the character of “Blade” centers around a unique hero: a dhampir, a being who is both human and vampire yet devoid of many harmful vampire traits. This creature, exceptional in the “Blade” universe due to its superior vampire qualities without the dangerous aspects, was first portrayed by Wesley Snipes in the 1998 movie adaptation of the 1973 Marvel character. Since then, Snipes has continued to play this vampire-slaying superhero in various sequels and more recently made an appearance in the 2024 Marvel film “Deadpool and Wolverine.
Back in 2013, whispers about a potential reboot or sequel to the iconic “Blade” franchise started swirling around. It wasn’t until 2019, during San Diego Comic-Con, that Marvel confirmed my dreams: they were developing a new “Blade” film, with Mahershala Ali stepping into the role!
The movie, initially slated for a Nov. 7, 2025 release, may experience a shift in its launch date due to the fact that filming hasn’t started yet and there have been quite a few hurdles along the way, such as several script revisions and changes in directors. However, Mia Goth, one of the cast members, expressed optimism about the project, stating that they aim to create an exceptional movie, which is a positive sign.
The Exorcist
Through the years, Director Mike Flanagan has garnered a devoted fanbase by creating numerous chilling supernatural horror films such as “Absentia,” “Oculus,” “Before I Wake,” “Ouija: Origin of Evil,” and “Doctor Sleep,” plus limited series like “The Haunting of Hill House,” “Midnight Mass,” and “The Fall of the House of Usher.” Given Flanagan’s reputation as one of today’s top horror filmmakers, it’s challenging to envision a more suitable director for a Blumhouse remake of “The Exorcist.
The latest news reports that Universal has closed a $400 million agreement for the rights to produce an “Exorcist” trilogy. At first, they had David Gordon Green from “Halloween” lined up as director. However, when the initial film in the trilogy, “The Exorcist: Believer” (2023), failed at the box office, the studio changed course and tapped Flanagan to take over instead.
Based on his previous works, it seems that Flanagan holds a deep affection for the “Exorcist” series which could potentially contribute to the high-quality reboot that fans have been yearning for. In an interview with Deadline, Flanagan stated, “‘The Exorcist’ is one of the reasons I entered filmmaking, and it’s a privilege to attempt something innovative, daring, and spine-tingling within its universe.” The movie is scheduled for a cinematic debut in March 2026.
The Blair Witch Project
Remarkably, some of the most terrifying movies become hits despite being made on minimal budgets. A significant factor contributing to the success of “The Blair Witch Project” was the raw storytelling that came with its initial $35,000 production cost. It’s no wonder that Jason Blum, a filmmaker renowned for creating low-budget horror films such as “The Purge” and “Paranormal Activity”, is the perfect choice to rekindle that magic.
In an April 2024 press announcement, Lionsgate unveiled that Jason Blum will collaborate with producer Roy Lee of Vertigo Entertainment, who has previously worked on films such as “The Ring,” the 2016 “Exorcist” remake, and the upcoming Max adaptation of “‘Salem’s Lot.” Excited about this partnership, Blum expressed his sentiment by saying, “I believe ‘Paranormal Activity’ wouldn’t have existed without ‘Blair Witch.’ This project feels unique and I can’t wait to see where it takes us.
The three main actors from the original movie also aim to be involved in its creation. In a Facebook post dated April 2024, Joshua Leonard (on behalf of the cast) stated, “Given that we are the originators of the Blair Witch and have taken note of what fans cherish for over two decades, we remain your most powerful, yet untapped secret weapon!
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2024-10-19 21:31