Max Landis has provided an update on his upcoming remake of An American Werewolf in London. The original 1981 film was directed by Landis' father, the legendary filmmaker John Landis, and starred David Naughton and Griffin Dunne as the titular characters David Kessler and Jack Goodman, respectively (who were attacked by the werewolf), with Jenny Agutter as nurse Alex Price and John Woodvine as Dr. J.S. Hirsch. The movie garnered critical acclaim upon its release and has since evolved to cult status among horror fans around the world.

The first rumblings of An American Werewolf remake first surfaced in 2009, but it wasn't until Landis boarded the project last year that things started to move forward. Filmmakers from all across the industry have taken part in remakes before, but it's rare, if at all precedented, for someone to remake something that one of their parents had originally created - though it's not unprecedented for family members to work together (see: Jon and Lawrence Kasdan scripting the young Han Solo movie). Now, the younger Landis has indicated how far along he's in the process of developing the remake.

The screenwriter was at San Diego Comic-Con 2017 last month promoting Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency - and in an interview with Kevin Smith for IMDb, Landis said that he's halfway through writing the script for An American Werewolf in London and that he still plans on directing the upcoming remake:

"I'm going to write it, and I think I'm going to direct it. I like the script I wrote; you know, I'm halfway through it right now. I hope it turns out great."

Landis also acknowledged that there were rumors about the American Werewolf in London remake joining Universal Pictures' burgeoning Dark Universe - a shared monster universe that launched with Alex Kurtzman's The Mummy remake earlier this summer - though he didn't provide any concrete information on that front. Previous reports have stated that The Walking Dead executive producers Robert Kirkman and David Alpert (who also produces Dirk Gently) will serve as producers on the remake, with John Landis also serving as executive producer.

Although there isn't much that's known about the project at this time, Max Landis has previously stated that the American Werewolf in London remake will continue to use practical effects for the werewolf - especially with regard to the transformation scene (the original movie's transformation is what garnered the film the inaugural Oscar for Outstanding Achievement in Makeup) - but utilize CGI for the legs so that the werewolf will remain mobile.

NEXT: John Landis Criticizes The Dark Universe

Source: IMDb