This week is one of forgotten remake projects sudden popping their heads of to say, “I’m still here!” Invisible Man, Vacation, Fletch, and The Fantastic Voyage are all apparently alive and well, and so is the planned remake of Romancing the Stone.
It was way back in December 2008 when it was announced that FOX would remake of the 1984 romantic comedy adventure starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito. Originally, the studio wanted their new movie to come out in 2011, with Daniel McDermott penning the script. Exactly one year later, it was reported that Robert Luketic had been been brought on to direct the remake.
Now, MovieHole is reporting that this long-forgotten remake is still a-go, though Luketic is off the film and FOX on the lookout for a new director who will have a “fresh, exciting take” on the project.
Apparently Luketic had wanted his Ugly Truth star Katherine Heigl to take on the Kathleen Turner role, and MovieHole states that FOX is still interested in snagging the actress for the lead, with John Carter actor Taylor Kitsch and Gerard Butler on their wish list for the Michael Douglas role.
Is there anyone out there that really wants to see this remake? The original is so awesome and I don’t know about you, but I need a break from Heigl and her long list of rom-coms. I’m fine if FOX neglects this remake for another 3 years.
[Source: MovieHole]
Once again Hollywood proves to us that creative writing teams are a thing of the past. Original ideas fall by the wayside as it scrambles to make money on remakes, tired sequel franchises, and CGI over plot films.
The Invisible Man? The original spawned a few sequels, it has been remade several times before (Mostly forgettable. Hollow Man anybody?), and it even had a television and cartoon series. Put this one to rest and pop in the DVD of the 1933 version with Claude Rains.
Vacation and Fletch were good films. Vacation churned out a few sequels but do they really justify a remake though? Interesting that they were both Chevy Chase films.
Fantastic Voyage 1966 is a great film. For it’s time, yes I’m that old, it had great special effects, storyline, and actors. This is one they should have learned a lesson about with Innerspace 1987.
Now Romancing the Stone? Honestly, at the time of its release in theaters, I thought it was lackluster at best. 1984 was a great year for film so when this was released it paled by comparison to the other films at the time (Police Academy, Splash, Footloose). It also competed with Greystoke on its opening weekend which may account for such good box office reviews/profits. I thought it was a kind of predictable film trying to be an Indians Jones film but failing miserably. Surprisingly, it gave birth to a sequel which was equally lackluster. I predict the remake will be soon forgotten.
Hopefully, filmmakers will soon push away from the remake trend, or better yet, viewing audiences will. Â
Â
Comment by Somnambulist — August 27, 2011 @ 10:58 am
Agreed with Somnam… though I like Romancing a good bit more than s/he does. Slight, yes, but great turns by Turner and especially DeVito.
Seriously, has there ever been a remake better than the original? Â I kinda understand one argument you could make in favor of remakes: think of them as restaging a play like Hamlet, using the material and shaping it for a new generation. Â Yeah, I know, this analogy breaks down, Romancing is not exactly Shakespeare. Â On the other hand it might work better for literary adaptations, still, how many film versions of Jane Eyre are needed. Â Think of truly classic films, Citizen Kane, Casablanca, they don’t get remade, they are fine as they are.
Comment by WillnPL — August 28, 2011 @ 12:58 pm