Sam Raimi has produced a considerable number of horror films and remakes in recent years, and it looks as thought the Evil Dead and Drag Me To Hell director will be returning to the genre with the Poltergeist remake.
Raimi has been attached as a producer on the horror remake for some months now, although a recent THR article suggested that writer David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole, Oz: The Great And Powerful) had confirmed that Raimi would be adding directing to his producing duties.
In a Rise Of The Guardians interview, Lindsay-Abaire confirmed that Raimi was directing Poltergeist. Raimi must be a fan of the Pulitzer Prize winning writer, as the article also reveals that Raimi came close to directing Rabbit Hole.
While we'll wait for official confirmation, either from Raimi or MGM, this is certainly pleasing news.
Admittedly, it’s extremely rare that we’ll get excited about a horror remake, but the involvement of Raimi as director completely changes the game.
It’s hard to image that an auteur with Raimi’s horror heritage would sign on for a bog-standard, join-the-dots retelling of the original film. Surely he’d only get involved if he could make it his own.
And presumably Lindsay-Abaire must have come up with an intriguing take on the script. Our optimism levels are rising rapidly on this one.
Raimi and Lindsay-Abaire next collaboration, Oz: The Great And Powerful, opens in the UK on 8 March 2013.
Isn't Raimi still technically unconfirmed? There's been no comment from the studio and, as yesterday hinted, this could just be a game of miscommunication.
Queen of Hearts wrote:I heard they were remaking this. What is up with all the remakes these days?
People are lazy. They lack originality and Hollywood is just out to make a quick buck.
It's a business. Films have to make money. And if the original has potential, why not remake it? Quoting Lavoisier, "nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed."
A few good remakes:
Insomnia
Cape Fear
Man on Fire
3:10 to Yuma
The Fly
and more.
People bitch about remakes too much. If a movie was to come out that featured a family in a house that is haunted people are going to just say it's a Poltergeist rip-off.. even if it's not. There is no winning.
