Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on Jan 22, 2015 9:09:25 GMT -6
deadline.com/2015/01/simon-west-to-direct-the-blob-remake-efm-goldcrest-1201355327/
Simon West To Helm ‘The Blob’ Remake; Goldcrest Selling At EFM: Berlin
It crawls! It creeps! It’s getting a remake. Goldcrest Films is set to co-produce an update of 1958 horror/sci-fi classic The Blob. Simon West (Wild Card, The Mechanic, Expendables 2) is directing with principal photography eyed for this summer. Producers are Richard Saperstein and Brian Witten (Silent Night). Korea’s Taewon Entertainment and A-List Corporation are co-financing with Goldcrest.
The original film, which was released by Paramount, starred a young Steve McQueen. The story sees a gelatinous alien life-form emerge from a crashed meteor and begin to ooze through Downtingon, Pennsylvania, eating the townsfolk as it goes. Check out the original trailer below.
Goldcrest is also handling international sales and distribution and will launch the film at next month’s European Film Market in Berlin. UTA is brokering U.S. distribution rights; the agency reps West.
A 1972 sequel, Beware! The Blob, was helmed by Larry Hagman, and in 1988, Chuck Russell directed Kevin Dillon in a remake of the original. West says, “With modern CGI we can now fully realize the potential of The Blob. The world I create will be totally believable, immersive and emotionally satisfying. It’s a thrill to introduce an enduring icon to a wider audience and a whole new era of fans.”
Goldcrest Post will provide picture and sound post-production services and VFX under supervisor Chris Haney (Carol, The Avengers).
The 1958 film’s producer, Jack H Harris, will exec produce along with Judith Parker Harris, Shara Kay, and Laurence Freed. Pascal Degove and Nick Quested are exec producers for Goldcrest; with Tae Won Chung for Taewon and Ju Young You for A-List. Michael Roban, Michael Harpster, Kyu C Lee, Armen Aghaeian, Edward Mokhtarian, Geno Tazioli, Holly Kobzina and Paul Harris Boardman are also executive producers.
Pascal Degove, Managing Director of Goldcrest, says, “Simon West has a unique gift for blending cutting edge effects, awesome visual spectacle and a hint of humor. He’s the perfect choice to reimagine The Blob and we’re so excited to be partnering with him.”
Saperstein and Witten most recently produced Cell, based on the Stephen King novel and starring John Cusack and Samuel L Jackson, for release later this year. They say, “We grew up on The Blob. Simon West has a terrific and terrifying vision for bringing this iconic outer-space creature to life for a new generation. We’re grateful to Jack Harris for the opportunity to reintroduce a classic franchise, and to Goldcrest and Taewon for joining us on this journey.” The producers are represented by attorney Bill Grantham of Rufus-Isaacs, Acland, & Grantham.