Just as Norwegian director Andre Ovredal’s well-received “found footage” flick Troll Hunter officially begins a limited theatrical run in the U.S. today, there comes news that the rights to an American remake have already been purchased.
Chris Colombus (director of the first two Home Alone and Harry Potter movies) has acquired said remake rights through his 1492 Pictures production company. There’s no word yet on whether or not he plans to direct it himself, though.
Troll Hunter is a mockumentary that follows a trio of Norwegian college students as they investigate a man they believe to be an illegal bear poacher. However, it turns out the fellow in question is actually a special government employee charged with keeping the local troll population in check – and making sure the general public remains unaware that the fantastical creatures actually exist.
Deadline says that Marc Haimes (producer of Men in Black II and The Legend of Zorro) is set to script the remake of Troll Hunter, which is more of an intentionally comical adventure than similar vérité-style mockumentaries like The Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield.
It’s actually a bit disappointing to hear that Columbus won’t be scripting the remake himself, seeing how he was responsible for writing some pretty entertaining adventure tales that mixed thrills, chills, and laughs back in the 1980s (see: Gremlins, The Goonies).
Troll stories and legend are firmly rooted in Scandinavian folklore, so it would be odd if the Troll Hunter remake were to try and use America as its setting. Chances are good that the film will instead revolve around a trio of U.S. college students who are visiting Norway (possibly, as part of some foreign-exchange program) when they uncover a government conspiracy to keep the existence of trolls under wraps. Whether or not the remake will try and be more of a straight-faced supernatural horror-adventure than the original Troll Hunter is another matter – though it probably will retain the amateur filmmaking aesthetic.
The foreign-language Troll Hunter is an exciting and entertaining cinematic ride in its own right; it even boasts some pretty decent visual effects, considering its cheap production cost. It’s not a film that jumps out as something that could readily be (or needs to be) improved – but how often is that really the case with Hollywood remakes nowadays?
On a less cynical note: A Troll Hunter remake would help draw more attention to the original film in a way, and could be fun for moviegoers who were never able to see its Norwegian counterpart on the big screen. So take that as you will.
The original Troll Hunter can currently be watched on Video On Demand through local cable providers.
Source: Deadline
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Wait, what? I know this movie was done a few years ago but it was JUST released. I like remakes/reboots but not this soon.
Furthermore, they can’t recreate the great atmosphere of the Norwegian folklore in the first movie in America…America doesn’t have anything remotely rich in its short existence.
This is not good.
Agreed. This can only go downhill…..
There is
There is Native American folklore to draw upon. Wendigo anyone?
Not really American. Plus, it’s been done before in the film Ravenous. I’d definitely recommend that film, very very good.
What’s more “American” than Native American folklore?
Again, Native American is not really American. And by that I mean that the modern American could not identify with the Native American folklore in the same way that the Nordic countries identify with folklore about trolls.
I saw it Wednesday and thought it was pretty good (definitely a step above the last “on the cheap” type show I saw, Monsters). The only lame part imho was the dead bears, they looked completely fake. The trolls themselves however were exceptionally well done and I was very impressed with them and the story in general.
So WHY do we need a remake from an American perspective when we have THIS film? Seems more than a little redundant to me.
Mongoose,
That’s what I say. Why? Because “We” Yanks are too stupid and lazy to read for 120 minutes I guess.
An American remake won’t draw more attention to this the original. It won’t get it released world wide because the American version will.
History has already proven that will all the remakes we’ve done.
Only a select number of people actually know or prefer the original of any remakes- So I guess that’s the answer to the whole thing. Ignorance of the source material.
I’m hoping for a darker and grittier take on it.
From Chris Columbus? Nope.
I like Columbus, but he’s a BAD fit.
And by ‘like,’ I mean he’s OK, but not special.
I watched it the other night and it was a pretty good movie I was wondering when they would Americanize it but dang this quick LOL I hope they doit justice
I’m not used to “giant trolls” – I sort of think of these as being more like ogres. I guess Tolkein’s trolls were pretty big, though, but I’m more used to the nine-feet variety from all my D&D game experiences.
Ah well, I guess there’s no helping all these different takes on various monsters.
oh dear gods, the Septics will ruin it
Reasons why this unneeded reboot won’t work:
1. Americans can’t really identify with Troll culture. Unless one is of Norse heritage or grew up reading folklore, Americans don’t really know or understand the importance of Trolls and how they shaped the history of Norway. Even cities are named after them. We don’t have this kind of connection to the landscape in America. Even if they go with the plot of ‘college kids go to Norway,’ it won’t ever be as emotionally or culturally important to them.
2. The religious aspects would not translate well. Though Americans don’t really like to admit it, they’re too gun-ho with their religious beliefs to want to watch a man being eaten just because he’s a Christian. That’s quintessential to the film, and I don’t think producers will think it’s very kosher and will omit it, thus lessening the impact of the film.
3. American directors won’t be able to handle it. They’ll try to make it too action-adventure with producer-plotted unneeded romance instead of a curious documentary gone horribly wrong.
4. Speaking of directors, Columbus is a terrible choice. This isn’t an action-adventure with humorous quips and dancing at the end of the film. This isn’t the Goonies. He will make it more of a child’s film than anything, look what he did to the first Harry Potter film. This isn’t for children; most certainly children can watch, but it’s meant to stand on the brink of scary and suspenseful.
Also, why? Why remake it? Is Hollywood so strapped for ideas that it has to steal them from other countries? Are they so unoriginal that they pounce on and shred a perfectly good film for no good reason. Oh yeah, they are.
thoughts on this film being remade:
Unnecessary? yes
Less relevant to American culture? yes
Will it make money? yes
Will it be worth watching? yes
Right now my main thought is that the part of Hans (the trollhunter) should be played by Samuel L. Jackson. And his name should not be changed.
Ha! That’s funny about Jackson. We admit we’re reluctantly pessimistic about the the film being worth watching (we want it to be, but aren’t too hopeful). Trollhunter is a one trick pony (and a very good one, mind you), so it’s hard to imagine that Chris can walk the fine line between original work and a film still framed with the simple, quirky feel of the Norwegian original. As for miscasting Sam Jackson elsewhere, as much as we like him, we’re not sure we understand why he was cast as Sgt. Fury. It may be unfair that a great character like Fury was characteristically white, but it is what it is. Of course, if his backstory is re-written (and made into a fresh and interesting alternative version), it won’t matter, so the modified Fury better be good. Jackson can fill up the screen if it is.
ROFLMAO!
“Troooooooooooooll, mother***er!”
I feel that Americans could not recreate the film accurately. But you’d better believe I will be there the day it comes out, complaining throughout.
I am an actor. Right now there is nothing i would like better than for someone to offer me a role in a hollywood movie. However if Christopher Columbus offered me a role in the Troll Hunter remake, I would turn it down and fire my agent. I would hate to be a part of something that is no doubt going to ruin the original. Now here is something I don’t understand. Christopher Columbus says this… “Troll Hunter was a visceral, thrilling, cinematic rock and roller coaster ride of a movie. Visually, there are scenes in this film that American audiences have never seen. We want to introduce an international audience to this amazing moviegoing experience.” Is there anyone else out there who is thinking… Well if you haven’t seen certain scenes, WATCH THE DELETED SCENES ON THE FREAKIN DVD instead of ruining the entire project by knocking up a cheesy, rushed, all american and we are great, stinking cesspool of celuloid vomit. I’m thinking that a board of directors who have made this decision for this remake need to be slapped.
Also, “international audiences”? Why would, say, a non-english-speaking European rather read subtitles over a U.S. remake, than the original movie?