Entertainment is entrenched in the era of the remake and this year is no different; here's every movie reboot and remake releasing in 2022. The complaint about there being no originality left in Hollywood isn't a new one, although it's obviously never been 100% true. There are indeed wholly original movies produced by Hollywood studios each year; they just aren't the ones that get the most attention and biggest budgets. The money goes into installments in existing franchises, as time and again, it's been shown that having a recognizable brand name markedly increases a movie's chances to succeed at the box office.
There were lots of notable movie remakes and reboots released in 2021, after COVID-19 understandably turned 2020 into a desert for new movie releases in general. While also an extremely belated sequel, Ghostbusters: Afterlife served as a way to reboot the franchise after a divisive 2016 reboot attempt. Steven Spielberg remade the classic musical West Side Story, earning critical acclaim but poor ticket sales. Cruella reintroduced and reinvented 101 Dalmatians' iconic Disney villain. Mortal Kombat even got on the movie reboot train, to decidedly mixed results.
While more are sure to be announced and dated for 2022 as the year progresses, for now, there are already quite a few remakes and reboots that either already have release dates assigned or have been earmarked for a release sometime in 2022. These titles include several notable horror franchise reboots, Disney franchises heading in new directions, and even a director reviving an unmade past project. With that in mind, here's every movie remake and reboot coming out in 2022.
Scream (January 14)
Ready or Not duo Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Taylor Gillett take over the director's chair from the late Wes Craven for Scream, the first movie remake or reboot of 2022. While in some ways a sequel to the original Scream movies, due to the return of Sidney Prescott, Dewey, and Gale, Scream 2022 also seems positioned as a reboot designed to lead to further installments. Very little is known about the plot, set 25 years after the original Woodsboro murders, other than the fact one of the original trio come back to town to investigate a series of murders that hold eerie similarities to the ones they witnessed when they were teens.
Death on the Nile (February 11)
Arriving in 2022 after multiple delays - both due to COVID and now disgraced co-star Armie Hammer - Death on the Nile is a sequel to 2017's Murder on the Orient Express. The film brings back Kenneth Branagh as both director and portrayer of Agatha Christie's famed detective Hercule Poirot. Death on the Nile, which was previously adapted to film back in 1978, puts the murder mystery happenings on a riverboat cruising down the Nile River.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (February 18)
The umpteenth reboot of the classic horror franchise, Texas Chainsaw Massacre is headed straight to Netflix. This reboot is going the Halloween 2018 route, presenting itself as a direct sequel to the 1974 Tobe Hooper-directed original. Texas Chainsaw Massacre sees a new group of young people run afoul of infamous slasher Leatherface in his Texas hometown, while also featuring the return of 1974 final girl Sally Hardesty, now played by Olwen Fouéré. Sadly, the recast is due to the fact that original actress Marilyn Burns passed away in 2014.
The Batman (March 4)
Robert Pattinson dons the Batsuit in director Matt Reeves' The Batman, which looks to begin the fifth distinct cinematic incarnation of the Caped Crusader, following the 1960s Adam West version, the Batman found in the Burton/Schumacher series, Christian Bale's Dark Knight trilogy Batman, and Ben Affleck's DCEU rendition. The Batman centers on a younger Bruce Wayne, as he battles a more grounded take on The Riddler and The Penguin. Jeffrey Wright will also become the first Black actor to play Jim Gordon.
Lightyear (June 17)
Lightyear isn't a reboot of the Toy Story franchise in the traditional sense, but it's definitely a new direction for it. Chris Evans voices Buzz Lightyear in this origin movie that shines a spotlight on the real in-universe astronaut that inspired the toy voiced by Tim Allen. Little is known about the plot, although Taika Waititi is also starring in an undisclosed voice role.
Salem's Lot (September 9)
While the surge of Stephen King adaptations that came after the monster success of IT in 2017 has ebbed a bit, IT writer Gary Dauberman is set to write and direct a feature film adaptation of King's Salem's Lot. This will be the third adaptation, after two TV miniseries released in 1979 and 2004. Lewis Pullman stars as Ben Mears, a writer who returns to the titular town to try and write a new book, only to discover it's being taken over by Kurt Barlow, a monstrous vampire and classic Stephen King villain.
Cheaper By The Dozen (TBA)
Coming to Disney+ in 2022 is Cheaper by the Dozen, the second remake of 1950's Cheaper by the Dozen. The story revolves around a large blended family and the comedic hijinks they get up to. Scrubs' Zach Braff and L.A.'s Finest's Gabrielle Union co-star as the leads of the family. This remake is co-written and produced by Black-ish creator Kenya Barris.
Crimes of the Future (TBA)
Legendary director David Cronenberg brings audiences Crimes of the Future in 2022, a story harkening back to his older tales of horrifying biological evolution and technology run amok. Frequent Cronenberg collaborator Viggo Mortensen takes the lead role as a bizarre performance artist. Lea Seydoux, Kristen Stewart, and Scott Speedman also star.
Father of the Bride (TBA)
Coming to HBO Max in 2022 is Father of the Bride, the third cinematic adaptation of the 1949 novel of the same name. This version will change things up a bit from the well-loved series of '90s movies starring the newly returned to acting Steve Martin. Instead, the 2022 remake will focuse on a Cuban-American family, with its patriarch played by Andy Garcia. Singer Gloria Estefan and live-action Dora the Explorer actor Isabella Merced also star.
Firestarter (TBA)
From Blumhouse Productions comes a 2022 remake of Firestarter, another project based on a Stephen King book. One of his earlier novels, it tells the story of pyrokinetic child Charlie McGee and her attempts to escape the villainous organization known as The Shop. In an interesting casting choice, Charlie's father, Andy, will be played by Zac Efron.
Hellraiser (TBA)
Heading straight to Hulu is Hellraiser, a new take on the horror franchise created by Clive Barker. This Hellraiser franchise reboot actually has Clive Barker's approval, as he served as a producer. David Bruckner, helmer of 2021's acclaimed The Night House, is taking over the director's chair, with Sense8's Jamie Clayton set to play Pinhead. Casting Clayton, a trans woman, as the character has been hailed as an inspired move by many as Pinhead's gender identity is ambiguous in Barker's book.
Matilda (TBA)
Many who grew up in the 1990s have a lot of love for 1996's Matilda, based on Roald Dahl's book about a psychically gifted girl struggling to survive her unethical family and domineering principal. Headed to Netflix, this new take on Matilda actually won't be a straight-up remake of the movie, but is instead an adaptation of a 2010 stage play based on the story. So far, Emma Thompson is attached to star as the evil Miss Trunchbull.
Pinocchio (TBA)
Disney is set to add to the long, long list of cinematic adaptations of Pinocchio in 2022. Robert Zemeckis co-writes and directs this version, another in Disney's long line of live-action remakes of their animated classics. In what may be perfect casting, Tom Hanks stars as kind-hearted but lonely wood-carver Gepetto, who creates Pinocchio. Unsurprisingly, this Pinocchio will debut on Disney+.
The Toxic Avenger (2022)
A Hollywood-produced remake of Troma's infamous 1984 indie horror effort, The Toxic Avenger focuses on a bullied outcast who becomes a reluctant - and violent - superhero after being pushed into a vat of toxic waste. Peter Dinklage is set to play the titular character, while Jacob Tremblay, Kevin Bacon, and Elijah Wood fill out the cast. It's unclear if Dinklage will play only Toxie's human form, or his monster side too, however.