A remake of the classic 1935 film Bride of Frankenstein has been talked about for a long while now and it looks like new life has been breathed into the project by Universal and Imagine Entertainment. Neil Burger, writer and director of The Illusionist, is reportedly in talks to direct the Bride of Frankenstein remake. If it goes through, he’ll also pen the script with writing partner Dirk Wittenborn, with Brian Grazer (Frost/Nixon, A Beautiful Mind) and Sean Daniel (The Mummy) set to produce.
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The original Bride of Frankenstein was a straight sequel to 1931’s Frankenstein in which a mate is created for the monster by Dr. Frankenstein, only to unexpectedly find that she rejects him. As stated, a remake of the movie has been talked about for a long time now: American Splendor writers Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini were once attached to pen the screenplay for Universal and Imagine with their concept bringing the Bride to modern day New York. Apparently, Burger’s version will be drastically different to that concept. Jacob Estes (who’s tapped to write the Venom spin-off movie) was also once attached to pen a new Bride of Frankenstein.
As Risky Biz Blog points out, although there have been numerous versions of the original Frankenstein, there has only ever been one other big-screen version (or remake) of Bride of Frankenstein called The Bride. This was back in 1985 and starred Sting and Jennifer Beals. Is that because it’s hard to get the idea right, particularly as a standalone movie away from the linked Frankenstein? I’d say it’s at least a reason.
Not only does Bride of Frankenstein add to the list of remakes currently in the works, it also is just one of many being developed by Universal which are new versions of classic monster movies. They also have The Wolf Man finally getting its release after being delayed, and the previously reported Creature From the Black Lagoon. Apparently, they’re eager to mine the rest of their library of classic monster titles to remakes/reboots.
Of the ever-growing list of remakes that are in the pipeline, Bride of Frankenstein is one of the lesser irritating ones. It doesn’t seem like they’re just remaking it for the sake of it, at least not to the same degree as others. But at the same time, I hope they take remaking the movie very seriously because it’s going to be a hell of a hard one to “get right.” Will they update it to modern day or keep it as a period movie? Burger’s Illusionist was an example of the latter, so I could easily see him going that route with this remake. I, for one, would certainly hope so.
Do you think Bride of Frankenstein should join the plethora of remakes? Which direction do you think they should take this new version?
Bride of Frankenstein is currently in the development stages and doesn’t have a release date yet.
Sources: RiskyBizBlog and /Film
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7 Comments
Hollywood must die.
LOL @Michael Claymore.
Vic
Re-issue the classic film, spend a few million dollars on the bonus features. Give us a 4 disc directors cut special edtion, Skynet version…
But do not remake this film you bastards…
When I see what I think is a perfect film being remade, I can only think that whoever is doing it possesses no creative talent and hopes to tag along on the original film’s coat tails.
When I think of all the great, young creative talent out there who cannot make a film because they cannot get the financing, it is doubly painful to see someone who has the financing spending it on their copycat endeavours.
I can understand why they are remaking these classics, they are dated. But like Christopher R. Mohr Sr. said, there are young writers with original ideas out there that are being overlooked.
How about remaking Hollywood into an organization with original ideas? “I’d buy that for a dollar”.
If the question of originality was really at stake, the original “Frankenstein” movie wouldn’t have been made (“What? Make a film out of an old book – no!? There are kids out there with original ideas…”).
Actually, I’m more confused by the view expressed here, and in other places, that a re-make has to be a period piece – “like the original”. What period was it set in, exactly? None of the Universal creature features pass muster as “period pieces” because so many elements were contemporary to their production – men in 20thC lounge suits, women with short skirts and Hollywood hairstyles. At best they are set in a sort of never time, and at worst they are plainly modern day (the “Mittel European” countrysides might be faux old, but you get there from modern day America…).
So set remakes in the early twentieth century, or in the present day – it won’t matter – just do it well…
I like that the classic universial monsters are coming back but BOF is so classic and there isnt another Karloff. Why not make a sequal to one of the universial monster movies. Staying in the same vain of course. GET Depp to be in some.
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