Yet Another Remake... Universal Plans to Revamp 'Weird Science'
by Shannon KeirnanBecause apparently Hollywood has nothing to do but remake classics (isn’t Los Angeles pretty much chock-full of hopeful, original screenwriters? What gives?)... yet another beloved film will be getting a new and edgy update.
This time it’s John Hughes’ 1985 nerd comedy “Weird Science,” which starred Anthony Michael Hall, Ilan Mitchell-Smoth, and Kelly LeBrock. Robert Downey Jr. and Bill Paxton also had roles.
Universal Pictures and Silver Pictures plan to remake the film, using Joel Silver (who worked with Hughes on the original) as producer. Michael Bacall will pen the script.
Bacall has experience updating 80’s classics… he wrote the surprisingly popular “21 Jump Street,” which starred Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill.
It will take a strong hand, certainly, to take on a script by Hughes, who also has under his belt much-loved flicks like “Sixteen Candles,” “The Breakfast Club,” “Pretty in Pink” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
Word is that Bacall will try to set this version of “Weird Science” apart from the original by making it edgier a la “The Hangover.” It will probably be R-rated, though that has yet to be established.
Does anyone else thinks this beg the question “If it needs to be set far apart from the original, why not just write an original?”
“Weird Science” was about two brainy kids who created the “perfect woman…” but she turns out to be even more than they expected. It later became a television series for USA Network.
Silver Pictures’ Silver and Andrew Rona will produce, while Alex Heineman will executive produce. Universal’s Scott Bernstein will oversee production.
What do you think of the remake… and who would you like to see star?