Movies
NON-NEWS FLASH: MGM Still Holding Up ‘Child’s Play’ Remake
It’s a shame that after being announced in 2007 (yes, it really has been that long), nothing is still going on with the Child’s Play remake, which is being written and directed by series creator Don Mancini – if it ever happens, that is. The guys over at Screen Junkies got to chat with Mancini at a recent screening of Seed Of Chucky, where he updated them on the status of his long-gestating reboot.The most exciting thing about the proposed reboot is that it will be in a darker, more serious vein, which might be just the shot in the arm the series needs after the disappointing box office returns for the more jokey entries. If they’re looking for a viable angle that will make it stand apart from the series, which Mancini claims “won’t necessarily be a strict remake”, that’ll do the trick.
Although Mancini is keeping the exact details of the new entry under wraps, he did go on to say that “We’d definitely keep the mythology of Charles Lee Ray, the idea of Chucky being possessed by a killer rather than what you’re referring to, that Chucky was the embodiment of this boy’s id… We’ve explored a number of different possible scenarios. I’m definitely pushing to go in a very disturbing direction because I feel like if we’re going to go back to it being a horror movie, let’s make it really disturbing.”
As far as the rights situation goes, it’s true, MGM is holding up the development of the film, but all is not lost. MGM and Warner recently worked out their Hobbit woes, so things could eventually turn around. I think, at this point, the real issue is whether or not it’s worth it for Universal/Rogue to buy the rights for the entire franchise (they only own sequel rights at this point), and because the last few sequels they made didn’t exactly set the world on fire, they probably need a little more than a promise of making a vast overhaul of the series’ tone before they commit.
Head over to Screen Junkies to check out the whole interview.
Movies
‘Boorman and the Devil’ Documentary Trailer Chronicles Complicated Relationship with ‘Exorcist II’
Critically acclaimed documentary Boorman and the Devil chronicles how one of the world’s greatest filmmakers made one of the most hated movies ever: Exorcist II: The Heretic. A new trailer highlighting some of the troubled production woes has arrived.
Boorman and the Devil opens at The Quad in NYC on August 28 before opening wider in various cities on September 4, including: Los Angeles, Columbus, Houston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Seattle and more.
After the success of Point Blank and Deliverance, Warner Brothers offered John Boorman the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to direct a sequel to their smash hit, The Exorcist. The result was one of the biggest disasters in movie history. A critical and financial failure that not only changed how Hollywood did business, but nearly ended Boorman’s filmmaking career… but to be an artist is to be a risk-taker.
Now, John Boorman, Linda Blair, Louise Fletcher, Karyn Kusama, Joe Dante, Mike Flanagan, and more reflect back on the ambition of the film, the artistry and craft, and the value of big creative swings.
“I am beyond thrilled that Yellow Veil has come on board to help us share this story with a larger audience,” said director David Kittredge. “Like myself and the rest of our team, they’re huge cinema-lovers. It’s so exciting that a film which is not only a love letter to John Boorman, but also to ambitious filmmaking, will be handled by people who share the same passions that our team shares.”
“I first saw the film at an early festival screening and the post-screening buzz was just electric. Everyone was loving Boorman and the Devil,” added Yellow Veil co-founder Justin Timms. “To be able to team up with David and the filmmaking team on this release is incredibly exciting, and we can’t wait to spread that post-screening electricity with audiences across the country.”
Boorman and the Devil is produced by Kittredge’s Triple Fire Productions, Travis Stevens (Jodorowsky’s Dune, Starry Eyes) of Snowfort Pictures, and Jim Fall (The Lizzie McGuire Movie), with Alan Koenigsberg of Milton Ventures Media serving as co-producer.
Daniel Kurland wrote in his review, “Boorman and the Devil goes above and beyond to be the definitive text on Exorcist II. This documentary will delight horror and Exorcist fans alike, but it also provides incredible insight for anyone who is just marginally interested in film production.”