‘Blob’ Remake Is Happening With Lots Of CGI And ‘Expendables 2’ Director
The 1958 horror classic The Blob is set, once again, to get a modern makeover. When the remake was first announced, the film was set to be directed and produced by Rob Zombie. Now the production is moving forth under Goldcrest Films with director Simon West, who worked on Expendables 2 and Con Air.
The Blob is that age-old story of an alien life form taking over a small town. The 1958 version starred a young Steve McQueen who fought to save his neighbors from being eaten alive. The blob would consume humans and grow larger with each meal. And, of course, the gooey beast terrorizes teenagers; it’s not a horror movie unless teens are being terrorized.
A sequel, Beware! The Blob, was made in 1972 and was directed by Larry Hagman. A remake was made in 1988 with Kevin Dillon taking commands from Chuck Russell. That makes this new film a remake of a remake.
The blob itself was made from silicone and a bit of red dye. Here is a fun trivia fact: It is still stored in the same five-gallon bucket that it was originally shipped to the studio in.
In the newest remake, there will be no silicone on set. Instead, the blob will be computer generated. According to Deadline, Simon West thinks that CGI will bring much-needed flare to the classic.
“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.”
There are high expectations for West, as 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.”
However, some fans are doubting that a cool director and fancy graphics can top the first Blob remake.
Entertainment Weekly reports, “Taewon Entertainment & A-List Corporation will co-finance the film as their first major English-language project. Richard Saperstein and Brian Witten will produce with Goldcrest Films.”
The film is set to be launched at next month’s European Film Festival in Berlin and is scheduled for a 2016 release.
Which Blob movie is your favorite? Do you think that Simon West can pull off this remake?
[Image via Deadline]
