Diksha Sundriyal
Remaking is one of the most important trends in the field of filmmaking. Everyone has a different perspective and everyone has a different way of telling the same tale. Even a gossip doesn’t move forward in the same way as it began. Then, it is rather unacceptable to believe that one story has only one fixed direction. I don’t know about people, but stories do mature over time, some more than others.
Numerous movie remakes are under development, and if you want to know if any of your favourites are in the line, here is the list of upcoming movie remakes coming out in 2020 and 2021. We hope that these new movie remakes are as good as some of the recent ones.
27. The Grudge (January 3, 2020)
Horror movies are always anticipated because the audience hopes that they will come across a new face of horror. Recently, only a couple of films have truly made a mark in this genre, while the rest have reused and recycled the clichéd storylines. The 2004 film, ‘The Grudge’ is inspired by a Japanese film. To maintain the authenticity of the content, the film is set in Japan. A fresh premise and a new type of ghost were liked by the audience and two more films were made under the banner of the franchise. The last film came out in 2009 and since then, there had been no more developments in the story of the “Ju-on”, until now. Directed by Nicolas Pesce, the remake stars Andrea Riseborough, Demian Bichir, John Cho and Jacki Weaver.
26. Dolittle (January 17, 2020)
Starring Robert Downey Jr. in the lead role, the film follows the story of Dr John Dolittle who prefers the company of his animals over fellow humans. When the Queen falls ill, he is tasked with finding the cure and embarks on an adventurous journey with his friends. It is based on the characters created by Hugh Lofting and goes back to the roots of the original story. The doctor has previously been played by Eddie Murphy in a modern setting. Scratching off all of that, ‘Dolittle’ sets the course for a new story.
25. Fantasy Island (February 14, 2020)
‘Fantasy Island’ is the do-over of the 1977 television series of the same name. It is set on a mysterious island where the guests have their wildest dreams come true, under the supervision of Mr Roarke. What begins as a pleasant adventure, soon turns into a nightmare, and the guests have to figure out what their host really wants. Produced by Jason Blum and directed by Jeff Wadlow (‘Kick-Ass 2’), the film stars Michael Peña, Maggie Q, Lucy Hale (‘Pretty Little Liars’), Austin Stowell (‘Bridge of Spies’) and Jimmy Yang (‘Silicon Valley’) in the lead roles.
24. The Invisible Man (February 28, 2020)
A remake of the 1933 film and based on the novel of the same name by H.G Wells, ‘The Invisible Man’ is written and directed by Leigh Whannell. A Blumhouse production, it stars Elisabeth Moss, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Aldis Hodge, Storm Reid and Harriet Dyer in the main roles. It follows the story of a woman who is trying to let go of a traumatic relationship, but when her ex mysteriously dies, she suspects if her past has come back to haunt her.
23. Mulan (March 27, 2020)
The legend of Hua Mulan comes from ancient China. It tells the story of a young girl who is forced to make a difficult choice. The empire demands every household to send one man to serve in the army and fight off the enemies of the state. Mulan’s father had already served in one war before and with his age, it is impossible for him to fight in another war and come back alive. Because there is no one else to take his place, Mulan disguises herself as a man and joins the army in her father’s place. Disney had made an animated version of this story, but with its recent streak of live-action movies, it is time to bring a new version of the story.
22. Candyman (June 12, 2020)
Based on the story by Clive Barker, ‘Candyman’ tells the tale of a black man who is lynched to death for falling in love with a white woman. If you call his name 5 times in front of the mirror, he will come for you. Directed by Bernard Rose, the film stars Tony Todd as the titular character. The film is being remade by Jordan Peele, who has written and produced it. Apart from reviving the story, the film focuses on the toxicity of fandom. Directed by Nia DaCosta, the film has Yahya Abdul-Mateen, Tony Todd, Colman Domingo and Teyonah Parris in the main roles.
21. The Witches (October 9, 2020)
Roald Dahl’s fantasy novel, ‘The Witches’ was first adapted for the screen in 1990. It stars Anjelica Huston and Rowan Atkinson in the lead roles and follows the story of a young boy who comes face to face with a coven of witches who hate children. The film received rave reviews and multiple awards, and the story has been produced as a radio drama, an opera and a stage musical since then. It is returning to cinemas under the direction of Robert Zemeckis. Produced by Alfonso Cuarón and Guillermo del Toro, it stars Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, Stanley Tucci and Chris Rock as the main cast.
20. Wrong Turn: The Foundation (2020)
Another horror series to receive a revival in the near future is ‘the Wrong Turn franchise’. Alan B. McElroy, who has written all the previous films in the series, has penned the tale for the reboot as well. Mike P. Nelson has directed the film, while James Harris and Robert Kulzer serve as the producers. Matthew Modine, Charlotte Vega, Emma Dumont, Dylan McTee and Adrian Favela star in main roles. It tells the story of a group of friends who get lost in the Appalachian and have to fight for their survival against the cannibals who have been living in the wilderness for a long time.
19. West Side Story (December 16, 2020)
Academy Award-winning film, ‘West Wide Story’, is receiving a do-over by Steven Spielberg. He is bringing the classic romantic musical to the screens with the screenplay by Tony Kushner. The duo has previously worked on films like ‘Munich’ and ‘Lincoln’. Starring Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler in the lead roles, it is set in the 50s in New York City and follows the story of two young people who fall in love despite the enmity of their families. The supporting cast includes Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Corey Stoll, Brian d’Arcy James and Rita Moreno.
18. Mortal Kombat (March 5, 2021)
Video games have served as the inspiration for films a number of times. ‘Mortal Kombat’ is one of the most successful video game franchises in the world and has been adapted for the screen twice before. 1995’s film of the same name kickstarted a series, that received a sequel in 1997 as ‘Mortal Kombat: Annihilation’. Since then, a number of games in the series as well as spin-offs have been released. To bring it back to the cinemas, James Wan has been brought on-board to produce it. The film has Ludi Lin, Mechad Brooks, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson and Tadanobu Asano in the main roles.
17. Masters of the Universe (March 5, 2021)
Dolph Lundgren stars as He-Man in the 1987 film, ‘Masters of the Universe’. The film was a critical and commercial failure. The video game series, on the other hand, proved to be more successful. From a screenplay by Matt Holloway and Art Marcum, David S. Goyer is set to bring the superhero in all of his glory to the screen. Noah Centineo, who is known for starring in films like ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ and ‘The Perfect Date’, has been cast in the lead role.
16. The Batman (June 25, 2021)
Batman is one of the most popular superheroes, and also the one who has received the most do-overs in cinematic history. Christopher Nolan’s version gave new life to the character, after which Ben Affleck took up the mantle in Justice League universe. However, that didn’t pan out so well, and now, once again, another actor is set to be the face behind the mask. Robert Pattinson is set to be the Dark Knight with Zoe Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Paul Dano and Andy Serkis joining the cast for various characters, with Matt Reeves helming the project.
15. Dune (November 18, 2020)
The classic sci-fi novel by Frank Herbert presents a strong material for a film, which, if made right, can be something significant in its own right. Directors like David Lynch have tried to adapt it for the screen, but have failed miserably. The thing is, this novel has a very, very dense plot and its themes are so varied that to bring them all together in a single film can be a daunting task. But the future seems promising now as Dennis Villeneuve, the director of ‘Arrival’, has decided to make a film on it. The project is still in its initial stages but with the name of such talented storyteller attached to it brings a lot of hope. Timotheé Chalamet has been cast in the lead role.
14. The Little Mermaid (2021)
‘The Little Mermaid’ is the next Disney film to receive a live-action makeover. Halle Bailey has been cast in the lead role of Ariel. Awkwafina, who is also in for another Disney film ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’, is supposed to breathe life into the character of Scuttle. There have been many ups and downs in other casting choices, with Melissa McCarthy and Harry Styles having been associated with it at some point of time. There is still work to be done on that part. As far as the plot is concerned, we don’t know if Disney will stick to the trend of ‘Aladdin’ and ‘The Lion King’, or if the story will be revamped with a modern twist.
13. Night of the Comet (TBA)
‘Night of the Comet’ is a 1984 film that follows the story of a couple of sisters who witness the destruction of the world after the rare sighting of a comet. The world turns into zombies around them. As they try to survive the apocalypse, they pick up another survivor on the way. Meanwhile, a scientist wants to experiment on them in order to produce an antidote. But the sisters feel that there is much more to his intentions. The film became a sleeper hit and is considered a cult-classic. Roxanne Benjamin, known for her work on ‘V/H/S’ and ‘Body at Brighton Rock’ has worked up a new script to reboot the series for Orion Pictures.
12. The Toxic Avenger (TBA)
The 1984 superhero comedy, ‘The Toxic Avenger’, follows the story of a janitor who is bullied at the workplace. In one of those incidents, he is thrown out of a window, only to land in toxic waste and is transformed by the chemicals into a superhero. The success of the film spawned various sequels and a TV series. Legendary has acquired the rights to the film, and Macon Blair is set to write and direct it. Lloyd Kaufman, Michael Herz, Alex Garcia and Jay Ashenfelter serve as the producers.
11. Escape from New York (TBA)
‘The Invisible Man’ isn’t the only story that Leigh Whannell is poised to revive. Kurt Russell’s action blockbuster, ‘Escape from New York’, is also coming back to the screens under his supervision. He is set to direct the film with a screenplay by Neil Cross. The cast has not been pinned down yet, but progress is being made on every front. For those who don’t know, the original film follows the story of a man named Snake Plissken, who is sent to Manhattan, which has been turned into a maximum-security prison, to rescue the President.
10. The Fugitive (TBA)
The 1993 film, ‘The Fugitive’ stars Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones in the lead roles. Directed by Andrew Davis, it is based on the 1960s tv series of the same name and received seven Academy Award nominations, with Lee Jones winning in the category of Best Supporting Actor. The story is receiving a makeover, both as a TV series and a film. While streaming service Quibi is working on the series part, with Kiefer Sutherland and Boyd Holbrook tapped for the lead roles, Warner Bros. is bringing it in the cinemas with Albert Hughes set to direct the project.
9. Highlander (TBA)
Starring Christopher Lambert, ‘Highlander’ is a 1986 film that follows the story of a mysterious group of people called the Immortals. Woven through time, into different eras, it charts a continuous battle that they have to fight amongst themselves, as only one Immortal can be alive at a time. The film has received multiple sequels, has been turned into a novel, and into live-action as well as an animated series. Its return to the big screen has been in the pipeline for a long time. ‘John Wick’ director, Chad Stahelski, has been associated with the project. The production is yet to take off, but the director is pretty hopeful about it.
8. Inspector Gadget (TBA)
‘Inspector Gadget’ is a 1980s animated series that follows the story of an inspector who is loaded with gadgets but is not really so smart as to crack the cases. He is well-intentioned, but his actions often turn ridiculous. If it wasn’t for his niece Penny and her dog, Brain, it would have ended badly for him. Especially when he is up against Dr Claw. The story received a live-action film in 1999, along with a couple of other do-overs as tv series. Disney has decided to give it another chance to work its magic in the cinemas. Dan Lin and Jonathan Eirich are producing the script written by Mikey Day and Streeter Seidell.
7. Blade (TBA)
Wesley Snipes starrer ‘Blade trilogy’ follows the story of a half-human, half-vampire superhero who saves humans from the creatures of the night. The character last appeared on-screen back in 2004. After a while, Marvel found its footing with Iron Man and the Avengers. Now that MCU has taken flight, it is time for old heroes to have another chance. Blade is returning to the screens pretty soon, and none other than Mahershala Ali has been cast in the role. The two-time Oscar winner is a hot commodity right now and is on a winning streak with the award-winning performances in movies and TV shows.
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6. Terms of Endearment (TBA)
‘Terms of Endearment’ was a critically and commercially successful movie of 1983. It stars Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger as a mother-daughter duo and traces thirty years of their lives and the evolution of their relationship. The film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, out of which it won five in all the main categories. MacLaine and Jack Nicholson, who starred in a supporting role, won Oscars for their performances. There was a sequel to the film, but it couldn’t live up to the name of its predecessors. Now, there are rumours of a remake, which may or may not involve Oprah Winfrey. The nature of relationships between parents and children have advanced tenfold over the years, and a remake could be a good representation of what it means in today’s world.
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5. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Silver Chair (TBA)
The stories written by C. S. Lewis have been a favourite amongst children for a very long time. It tells the story of four siblings who end up in a mysterious place called Narnia, where animals can talk, plants can move, an evil witch who threatens peace and a magical lion is the head of all things good. The first two films called ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ and ‘Prince Caspian’ met with great success. However, the third instalment didn’t meet an equivalent fate. The filmmakers failed to recreate the magic of the books and the franchise met its untimely end. A new film tries to reboot the story by introducing a new storyline from the magical world of Narnia. Whether it will be connected to the previous films is yet to be seen.
4. Logan’s Run (TBA)
‘Logan’s Run’ is a novel written by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson, and it served as a material for the screenplay of the 1976 film of the same name. It is directed by Michael Anderson and stars Michael York and Jenny Agutter in the leading roles. The film was a critical and commercial success. Since the past few years, a remake has been in works, although nothing substantial has happened over the years. It is set in a utopia where after people reached the age of thirty, they are killed off. Even though the original has a male lead, the remake has been toying with the idea of a female character to be the focus of the film. It’s still in early stages so we’ll have to wait a while to see how it all turns out.
3. Nosferatu (TBA)
‘Nosferatu’ is a 1922 silent film which is set in Germany with a very close similarity to the premise of Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’. The film is considered a classic in the horror genre and has inspired other filmmakers in making scary movies. Now Robert Eggers, who is known for directing ‘The Witch’, has taken the responsibility to recreate the story of Count Orlok. Anya Taylor-Joy who received her breakout role in the form of Eggers’ ‘The Witch’ might join on the project as well. Considering the success that this duo had met in their previous project, it would be wise to keep an eye out for their next collaboration.
2. Videodrome (TBA)
Another cult classic, ‘Videodrome’ is the story of a CEO of a small UHF television station who stumbles upon a broadcast signal featuring extreme violence and torture. The layers of deception and mind-control conspiracy unfold as he uncovers the signal’s source, and loses touch with reality in a series of increasingly bizarre and violent organic hallucinations. This upcoming remake has just been announced and director Adam Berg is set to helm the project.
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1. Scarface (TBA)
Many might not know this but the iconic 1983 film, ‘Scarface‘, is itself a remake of a 1932 film of the same name. Now, there is another remake — second remake — in the works that is set to star Diego Luna as Tony Montana, and Antoine Fuqua takes the director’s chair. While you might question as to why is the film being remade for the second time, Antoine Fuqua’s involvement in the project makes the venture quite stimulating. And don’t assume that remakes can’t be good. Didn’t the 1983 version already belie that notion?
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