If the theory that pop culture nostalgia runs in a twenty-year cycle is true, then the time is ripe for a remake of 1991 thriller Point Break. At least, Alcon Entertainment seems to think so, as they announced in 2011 that they would be bringing their own version of the film to the big screen. Kurt Wimmer, who stretched his remake muscles with last year's Total Recall, has been tapped to write the script, and the producers have just found the director that they want to handle the project.

The original film was directed by Kathryn Bigelow, who later won an Oscar for war drama The Hurt Locker, and is about an "F! B! I! Agent!" called Johnny Utah, who is sent undercover to investigate a gang of surfers that are suspected to be the culprits behind a series of bank robberies. Keanu Reeves played Johnny in the original, and the late Patrick Swayze played the surf-loving, philosophizing leader of the gang, Bodhi.

The remake will begin filming at the end of the year, and Deadline is reporting that Invincible's Ericson Core has signed on to direct the project. Core is best known for his cinematography work on films like The Fast and the Furious, Mumford and Daredevil, and since he was also the director of photography for Invincible, it's possible he'll double up for Point Break as well. Since The Fast and the Furious was arguably a partial remake of Point Break anyway, it's fair to say that this is familiar territory for Core, though it will be interesting to see how he handles an action-thriller in a directorial role.

fast and the furious ericson core

Alcon Entertainment's Andrew Kosove, who will co-produce the film with partner Broderick Johnson, has said that it won't be a literal remake, using the most recent version of Footloose as an example of a remake that was "identical to the original film." He has, however, said that the story will revolve around the beaches, and hinted that we'll see scenes of sky-diving or similar risky activities:

"[The remake] has got elements of the original and it’s not just surfing, it’s other kinds of extreme sports, but surfing is very, very prominent in the story.”

No roles have been cast yet, and there are any number of suitable candidates out there. The best choices, obviously, being Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Who else could fire a gun up in the air and go "Aaaargh!" with such conviction?

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We'll keep you up to date on the Point Break remake as more details become available.

Source: Deadline