Movies
Troma Selling Remake Rights to ‘Class of Nuke ‘Em High’ and ‘Poultrygeist’
I scoffed up a hairball when Troma claimed to be selling remake rights to Mother’s Day to a big Hollywood player. I ended up chocking it back down. Now I have to take these press releases seriously, no matter what I think.
Troma Entertainment’s theatrical classics, Class of Nuke ‘Em High and Poultrygeist, are now in negotiation to be remade as mainstream, big-budget productions, following deals for the remake of The Toxic Avenger, which will be produced by Akiva Goldsman and directed by Steven Pink (Hot Tub Time Machine), and Troma’s Mother’s Day, which has just been remade by producer Darren Lynn Bousman (Repo, Saw II-IV).
More soon out of the American Film Market next month, I’m sure.
The original Class of Nuke ‘Em High, directed by Richard W. Haines and Troma President Lloyd Kaufman in 1986, tells how a radioactive leak in the Tromaville Nuclear Plant contaminates the marijuana consumed by the students in Tromaville High School. It sold about 500,000 copies just in the US, becoming a cult hit nearly as successful as Troma classics The Toxic Avenger and Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D.
Originally released in 2006, Poultrygeist follows Arbie, a young man trying to win back his ex-girlfriend Wendy by getting a job at the same New Jersey fried chicken fast-food restaurant where she works. Unbeknownst to Arbie and the other employees, however, the restaurant is located on sacred Indian burial grounds, which brings hordes of demonic chickens to attack everyone in the vicinity.
Established in 1974 by Yale friends Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, Troma Entertainment is one of the longest running independent movie studios in United States’ history and one of the best-known names in the industry. World famous for movie classics like Kaufman’s The Toxic Avenger, Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead, Class of Nuke’em High, Mother’s Day, and Tromeo and Juliet, Troma’s seminal films are now being remade as big budget mainstream productions by the likes of Brett Ratner, Richard Saperstein, Akiva Goldsman, and Steven Pink. Among today’s stars whose early work can be found in Troma’s 800+ film library are Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Jenna Fischer, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Costner, Fergie, Vincent D’Onofrio and Samuel L. Jackson.
The killer tomatoes are back in Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence, and the offiical poster for the brand new movie has been unleashed tonight.
Additionally, we’ve learned that the film’s theatrical release is set for this August, with a panel set for San Diego Comic-Con this month featuring the world premiere of the trailer.
While you wait, check out the official poster down below.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence will be released in select cities across the US beginning August 7th in major cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Diego, and others, and expanding to further locations throughout the month.
The fifth installment in the horror-comedy franchise pits the eternal power of nature against AI’s best and brightest.
In Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence, a young biotech prodigy develops a revolutionary genetically engineered vegetable designed to solve humanity’s problems. But when the experiment spirals out of control, it unleashes a new generation of killer tomatoes, setting the stage for another outrageous chapter in the long-running cult franchise.
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes co-creators Costa Dillon and J. Stephen Peace return to write and executive produce. David Ferino directs.
The film features an ensemble cast led by franchise icon John Astin (The Addams Family), reprising his role as Professor Gangreen, comedy legend David Koechner (Anchorman), Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight), horror favorite Catherine Corcoran (Terrifier), comedy veteran Dan Bakkedahl (Veep), Myrna Velasco (Star Wars Resistance), Vernée Watson (Shrinking, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), and Paul Bates (Coming to America).
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes launched in 1979, followed by 1988’s Return of the Killer Tomatoes, 1991’s Killer Tomatoes Strike Back, and 1992’s Killer Tomatoes Eat France.
The franchise also spawned an animated series in 1990.
You must be logged in to post a comment.