The Hollywood Universe – 10/28/07:

1) Remake News #1: Barbarella, the remake of the legendary psychadellic sf film starring Jane Fonda, is back in development hell, thanks to a falling out between film’s backer Universal Pictures and director-producer Robert Rodriguez. Rodriguez claims the split occurred when he asked for the movie’s budget to be raised from $60 million to $82 million, but other sources claim a bigger problem was Rodriguez’s determination to cast his girlfriend, actress Rose McGowan, in the lead role. Rodriguez and McGowan became a couple after doing filming for Grindhouse, the project he shot with pal Quentin Terrantino. Their relationship led to the demise of Rodriguez’s marriage. Rodriguez is said to be shopping Barbarella around to other studios.

2) Remake News #2: Instead of sequels, remakes are the new in-thing in horror, and famous killer doll Chucky may be getting the same treatment with a remake of the original 1988 movie that spawned the franchise. Parts of the original script would be kept verbatim in the remake, while new material would be added. Chucky was last seen in the film, Seed of Chucky.

3) Producers David Kirschner and Corey Sienega are preparing a new fantasy project called Trout, described as a Big-meets-The Big Chill saga. In 1986, the oldest brother in a family that owns an amusement park makes a wish on a carnival token that his popular younger brother “Trout” would disappear. This wish sends 13-year-old Trout into the future to find his friends are all in their 30’s and still effected by his disappearance long ago.

4) Remake News #3: Yet another Japanese horror film will get an Americanized treatment. Chakusin Ari will become One Missed Call and will be directed by Eric Valette with stars Shannyn Sossamon and Edward Burns. Much like The Ring, One Missed Call finds two people dealing with their nearest and dearest dropping dead after disturbing messages are left on their voicemail, messages dated one or two days in the future. The movie will be released in January 2008.

5) Remake News #4: Naomi Watts is set to star in Universal’s remake of The Birds. The original story was written by Daphne du Maurier, of Rebecca fame, and inspired Alfred Hitchcock’s famous 1963 horror movie. Production of the film is being handled by Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes company and Peter Gruber’s Mandalay Pictures.

6) Remake News #5: 20^th Century Fox has once again greenlit Mad Max 4: Fury Road for production. Production offices for the film at Fox’s facility in Sydney, Australia have been re-opened. Mel Gibson has been dubbed too old and scandal-bound to be useful, and a new actor will be cast in the title role.

7) The world of Underworld rides again. Sony Pictures has greenlit a prequel film, Underworld 3: The Rise of the Lycans. The movie will cover the time period touched on in the previous films through flashbacks, about how the love between a young vampire and werewolf during the Middle Ages led to the long-standing war between the two races. Michael Sheen and Bill Nighy will be returning to portray their roles. Patrick Tatopoulos, who did the creative effects for the previous Underworld movies, will make his debut as director.