Between Disney remaking a ton of movies that it acquired from Fox, a few timeless classic crime dramas, and some beloved animated movies, there are a lot of remakes in development. And it's arguable that some of these already great, classic movies don’t even necessarily need to be remade.
But at the same time, there are movies in development that are begging for a remake, and through a modern-day lens, they could even be better than the originals, whether it’s a superhero movie that’s now in the MCU or fun but flawed movies from the '70s and '80s.
Scarface (1983)
Though Scarface is considered a classic by many, it may be good that it's getting an update, as some aspects of it have aged poorly. And though most fans of the 1983 movie will resent the idea of a remake, it’s easy to forget that it was already a remake of a 1930s movie, albeit vastly different.
Just like Brian DePalma’s movie, the remake will focus on pursuing the American dream, only in a modern-day setting, so it does have a unique spin on the source material. And just like the 1983 version, it’s going to have a hard R-rating.
Clue (1985)
The remake of Clue has been long in the development process and it has switched hands on countless occasions. At one point, Jason Bateman was at the helm, but after the schedule conflicted with Ozark, the project seemingly went back into limbo.
Ryan Reynolds is still attached to a star, and hopefully, it’ll be thrown into production soon, as the original 1985 movie has become a cult classic. And although Knives Out is almost like its successor, as it’s a much more mature and well-written take on the whodunnit narrative, Clue is so much more fun.
Blade (1998)
When it comes to remakes in development, many of them remain there for ages, and it could be years or even decades before they come out. However, given that the upcoming Blade remake is going to be a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, rest assured that there’ll be no delays.
The titular character has already been cast, as Mahershala Ali will be playing the vampire hunter, and it will start shooting at the end of 2021. Though the original movies were spotty, they had some great fight scenes, and hopefully, the remake will give those a run for their money.
White Men Can’t Jump (1992)
It seems like anything Wesley Snipes starred in during the 1990s is getting a remake, as not only is Blade getting inducted into the MCU, but White Men Can’t Jump is in development too.
It’s being developed by Kenya Barris, the creator of Black-ish. The original film is one of the best basketball movies out there that isn’t Space Jam, and though Woody Harrelson is no spring chicken, he’s still massively popular and in good shape, so hopefully he reprises his role in the remake.
The Warriors (1979)
The Warriors is a cult classic, as it has a weird combination of ultra-violence and camp '70s flare, and there’s no '70s movie begging for a remake more than this one. The movie has already seen a remake in the form of a video game in 2005, but a movie remake is still yet to rear its head.
At one point, Tony Scott was attached to direct, and then Mark Neveldine, but it’s said to be in rights hell. The most recent news is that the Russo Brothers are adapting the movie into a TV series, but a movie still isn’t off the table yet.
Home Alone (1990)
After Disney acquired Fox, the mouse is definitely not letting all these lucrative properties lay idle, and Home Alone will be getting a reboot on Disney+. It’ll be hard to capture the same magic as the first two movies, as it was almost like lightning in a bottle, but it’ll surely be better than the direct-to-TV sequels that followed.
And though Macaulay Culkin played Kevin perfectly, Archie Yates, who showcased his terrific acting chops in Jojo Rabbit, will be taking the reigns.
Memento (2001)
Of all of the hundreds of remakes currently in development, Memento is by far the strangest. It doesn’t necessarily need any kind of modern-day retelling, as the original is still fairly recent, and the non-linear storytelling in the crime drama was so genius that it’d be almost impossible to do again in such a shocking way.
And though it’s Christopher Nolan’s best movie, the mind-bending director doesn’t seem to have any involvement with it at all. So it’s one of the most questionable remakes currently in development, but also one of the most interesting.
Shrek (2001)
There are a lot of things about Shrek that make no sense, but that’s one of the reasons why it’s so loved in the first place. Whether it’s Donkey and Dragon having babies together or the Gingerbread Man getting interrogated, it’s stupidly hilarious.
However, the series derailed a little with the third and fourth movies, which has seemingly led to the studio approaching the next one as a reboot. The remake will be spearheaded by Chris Meledandri, who built the Despicable Me franchise.
The Fantastic Four (2015)
Just like Blade, The Fantastic Four is another movie that is currently in production and part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There have been questions surrounding the characters’ induction into the MCU for years, but it’s finally happening.
And now that it has been officially announced, fans are casting the movie themselves and scouring Disney+ Marvel shows for any hint or Easter egg pertaining to the four characters. This won’t be the first time the characters have been rebooted, as after the comical and goofy looking first two movies in the 2000s, Josh Trank directed a dark and gritty movie in 2015 too.
The Pirates Of The Caribbean (2003)
The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is in an interesting situation, as nobody really knows what the next movie will be, whether it’s about the original cast or not. But the one thing that has been confirmed is that there are actually two Pirates movies in production.
One of those movies is a complete reboot of the series, with Margot Robbie in the main role. The other movie could be anything, a continuation of Jack Sparrow’s story, a spin-off, or even a crossover with the criminally underrated Blackbeard’s Ghost, which is also available to stream on Disney+.