Each year there is a rash of new remakes, sequels, and reboots released along with the occasional original idea. And 2017 looks to continue that trend. The 1980s are back, and not just for hipsters who insist on wearing scrunchies and cat sweatshirts, but also in the multiplexes with a handful of remakes slated for next year.
Reboots from the 1980s Are Coming
Fox has snagged the rights to Hasbro’s Clue after a lengthy development battle thanks to success and failures of similarly board game based films such as Ouija and Battleship. The boardgame was originally made into a comedy in 1985 starring Tim Curry and Madeline Kahn. The remake has yet to cast the ensemble film just yet, but expect updates shortly.
Hasbro has also been in talks to make films based on other properties including Magic: The Gathering and Monopoly. Considering that movie studios tend to gravitate toward preexisting concepts, it is likely those films will also eventually see the greenlight. Over at MGM, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is getting the Ghostbusters treatment by doing a gender switch on the two leads. The original 1988 comedy classic featured Steve Martin and Michael Caine.
80s Remake Casting Updates
Rebel Wilson has been cast in the lead and will also fill Goldie Hawn's shoes in another 80s remake, Private Benjamin. The gender swapping goes both ways with Channing Tatum to star in the remake of 1984's Splash. While Tatum will fulfill the role of the exotic and beautiful mermaid, or merman rather, who saves the life of a human, Workaholics hilarious Jillian Bell will play the woman who takes the merman home. You can't make this stuff up.
On the made-for-tv movie front, Lifetime plans to remake the Bette Midler tearjerker Beaches. We're thinking they got the idea from the watch recently used in Spy. The film will star Nia Long and Idina Menzel. Anything that may lead to Idina Menzel covering "The Wind Beneath My Wings" certainly sounds like great idea. The 80s remakes do not end here. There have been even more flicks in the works for years such as Three Men and a Baby and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. Fortunately they have yet to move passed the idea phase. Since the ideas were already taken care of decades ago, the real work might be making them work today. Gender reversal seems to be a start...
What do you think? Are we ready for a return to the 80s? Or is Hollywood just out of original ideas...
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