Turn off your computer and read Stanze’s latest “Surviving Cinema” blog entry at FEARnet.com!
We all know remakes are what’s hot in horror cinema right now – and it has just been announced that a few of Eric Stanze’s past films are going to be remade – with significantly bigger budgets and mega-star actors.
Stanze’s Mario-Bava-inspired ghost story, DEADWOOD PARK, released in 2007, is currently being re-written by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger, the wordsmiths behind ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED (2011). The deals have not yet been officially sealed, but at this time, Stanze’s man-crush George Clooney and former FRIENDS star Jennifer Aniston are most likely to take over the lead roles. The small town sheriff will be played by Ice Cube. Paramount Studios has final say over who will direct, but Stanze is pushing Paramount hard to hire Adam Shankman, director of THE PACIFIER (2005), starring hunky Vin Diesel.
Speaking of Vin, he has signed on to star in the remake of Stanze’s artsy-fartsy experimental sci-fi / horror / brain-bender ICE FROM THE SUN (1999). Vin will take on the part of the powerful and evil-to-the-bone bad guy, The Presence – originally played by DJ Vivona. Vin’s fresh spin on the character is to give him a lisp and a walking cane. Brad Silberling (2009’s LAND OF THE LOST) has been tapped to direct.
DEADWOOD PARK and ICE FROM THE SUN are, apparently, fine to remake – but Stanze-fans became outraged at the news that his intense and critically-acclaimed SCRAPBOOK (1999) – the story of a serial killer / rapist and his final victim – is being remade by director James Cameron (2009’s AVATAR). Taking over the lead roles (originally played by Emily Haack and Tommy Biondo) are Danny DeVito (IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA) and Jar Jar Binks (1999’s STAR WARS: EPISODE I – THE PHANTOM MENACE). Cameron’s version of SCRAPBOOK – which is now inexplicably set several miles below the ocean surface – is currently being re-written by Diablo Cody (2007’s JUNO).
Stanze’s first official/professional movie was the demon-possession gore-fest SAVAGE HARVEST (1994). One of Stanze’s favorite directors working today is David Fincher (who helmed last year’s THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO), so Stanze was overjoyed to hear Fincher was set to direct the blood-soaked SAVAGE HARVEST re-boot. Sadly, scheduling conflicts with Fincher’s remake of 1987’s MANNEQUIN have removed him from the SAVAGE HARVEST project. The studio is now pursuing Brett Ratner (the RUSH HOUR films) to direct. (Joel Schumacher already declined the gig.) “The Rock” Dwayne Johnson (this year’s JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND) has already signed on to lead the ensemble cast – though he insisted the remake ditch the Native American / Trail Of Tears back-story and replace it with a pro-wrestling sub-plot. The new SAVAGE HARVEST promises to feature a thrilling smorgasbord of high-impact wrestling moves, like The Spinebuster, The Samoan Drop, and The Swinging Neckbreaker. Don’t miss it!
Unfortunately, Stanze’s involvement in these remakes is minimal, to say the least. Mostly he is just signing a stack of contracts and collecting gargantuan paychecks. Don’t forget to buy your tickets to these remakes when they come out next year – Stanze has major points on the back end.
Stanze goes location scouting – with unexpected results! It’s all in his official blog at FEARnet.com!
Join Stanze on a location scout! It’s a new “Surviving Cinema” entry at FEARnet.com!
In his official blog at FEARnet.com, Stanze talks 80s fright films and how to best reboot ‘em.
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