According to Variety, screenwriter Rand Ravich has signed on to write the latest film incarnation of the classic television series The Twilight Zone. Rand Ravich previously wrote and directed the Johnny Depp film, The Astronaut’s Wife. The Twilight Zone is being produced by Warner Bros. in conjunction with Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company, Appian Way.

A couple weeks back, I wrote about some of my favorite 4th of July movies. What I neglected to mention was my other favorite part of the 4th of July, watching an all-day marathon of The Twilight Zone on the Sci-Fi SyFy Channel. Even now, 50 years after the show first premiered, I’m entertained and occasionally frightened by Rod Serling’s masterful tales of the weird and wondrous, so it’s no surprise that I’ve been following plans of the most recent Twilight Zone film adaptation closely.

If done correctly, unlike the hit-or-miss 1983 Twilight Zone movie, a modern adaptation of The Twilight Zone could be excellent. Unfortunately, critics did not respond well to Ravich’s previous work, giving The Astronaut’s Wife a very low 16% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Of course, just because that movie wasn’t well-received doesn’t mean Twilight Zone can’t be good. Right…?

Personally, I never saw The Astronaut’s Wife, so I’d love to hear some more educated opinions on Ravich’s talents. Let us hear your thoughts in the comments.

Currently, there is no scheduled release date for The Twilight Zone.

Source: Variety (via Bloody Disgusting)

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Man, where does time go?

Hard to believe that The Dark Knight is now a distant memory (well, I can still hear the cash registers ringing).

It’s now time to look forward to a new batch of movies.  This week we have a horror remake bonanza featuring:

Leonardo DiCaprio entering The Twilight Zone, the return of Freddie Kruger in A Nightmare on Elm Street, MGM turn on the television and revisit Poltergeist and The Wolfman goes live.

1. Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company Appian Way have joined forces with Warner Brothers to try and buy the rights to the Rod Serling scripted episodes of The Twilight Zone in an attempt to get a feature off the ground.

It’s not sure if DiCaprio would star in the film (or films) or what format they would take. Way back in In 1983 Warner Bros released a four-segment film that was directed by the then hot fab four of Joe Dante, John Landis, George Miller and Steven Spielberg. The film was however released under tragic circumstances when star Vic Morrow and two children were killed on set during the Landis’ segment.

No director or writers have been attached - yet.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

2. New Line Cinema (or what’s left of it) is bringing Freddie Kruger back from the dead. They have hired scripter Wesley Strick to pen the remake of Wes Craven’s 1984 horror classic A Nightmare on Elm Street.

The remake is being produced by Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes production shingle.

The aim is that he film will be released next year on the 25th Anniversary of the original film.

Wouldn’t it just be cheaper to re-release it?

Source: Hollywood Reporter

3. MGM has decided to revisit the Poltergeist franchise. They are currently in the planning stages of remaking Tobe Hooper’s iconic 1982 horror film.

When the original film was released Steven Spielberg had to take out a full page ad in the trades to say that he didn’t direct the film.

I don’t think that he’ll have the same problem here.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

4. The website for The Wolfman has gone live. It features a pretty spolier free synposis and two pictures of the titular monster and Benico Del Torro and Anthony Hopkins in character.

There are also some words from an old Gypsy poem (and the original film starring Lon Chaney Jr.):

Even a man who is pure of heart,
And says his prayers every night,
May become a wolf,
When the Wolfsbane blooms
And the Autumn Moon is bright.

Spooky!!

Did I mention that this was a remake of a 1941 film?

Source: The Wolfman

That’s it for another week.

See you at the movies!!

• Poltergeist Remake Gets A Release Date
• ‘Twilight Zone’ Movie Gets Screenwriter
• ‘The Birds’ Remake Is (Hopefully) Not Happening
• Poltergeist Remake Delayed
• Platinum Dunes Signs With Paramount for ‘Butcherhouse Chronicles’
• Young John Connor To Take On Freddy Krueger?