James Wan, the visionary director behind the aquatic spectacle "Aquaman," is diving back into the depths for his upcoming cinematic endeavor. He's embarking on a reimagining of the iconic horror classic, "Creature From the Black Lagoon," and is in preliminary discussions to helm this monstrous project for Universal Pictures.
Envisioned as a "grounded yet modern reincarnation that delves into gut-wrenching terror while reverently nodding to its timeless predecessor," this remake promises to breathe fresh life into a beloved legend. It's been a remarkable seven decades since the original "Creature From the Black Lagoon" terrorized moviegoers in 1954, under the expert guidance of Jack Arnold and starring Richard Carlson and Julia Adams. Despite numerous attempts by filmmakers, including the illustrious Guillermo del Toro, to revamp this black-and-white Amazonian monster tale, none have managed to navigate the treacherous waters of a successful reboot.
Universal Pictures, determined to tap into its treasure trove of classic monsters, sees this remake as its latest endeavor in reviving beloved cinematic beasts. Following the disappointing fate of its interconnected Dark Universe ambitions, which floundered with Tom Cruise's "The Mummy," the studio has shifted focus to standalone tales. While the results have been a mixed bag – with triumphs like Elisabeth Moss's "The Invisible Man" (raking in $143 million worldwide on a shoestring $7 million budget) and disappointments like "Renfield" (starring Nicholas Hoult as Dracula's unhinged servant, which flopped with just $26 million globally) – Universal remains undeterred. Currently in development is a reboot of "Wolf Man," starring Christopher Abbott.
Wan's production house, Atomic Monster, recently merged with Jason Blum's Blumhouse Productions, a horror powerhouse known for hits such as "M3GAN," "The Nun," and "Annabelle." This formidable alliance will steer the ship for "Creature From the Black Lagoon," drawing on Wan's prowess as the creative force behind terror franchises like "The Conjuring" and "Saw" series, as well as his box office goldmines "Furious 7" and "Aquaman," both of which surpassed the $1 billion mark globally.
Michael Clear and Judson Scott of Atomic Monster will executive produce, while Jay Polidoro, Universal's Executive Vice President of Production Development, will oversee the project for the studio. With Wan at the helm and a rich history of horror excellence behind him, this remake promises to be a thrilling dive into the depths of cinematic terror.
