Jelly from space prepares its fourth landing
The first Blob introduced Steve McQueen to the moviegoing world. Larry Hagman directed sequel Beware! The Blob in the '70s. The surprisingly excellent '80s remake starred Kevin Dillon and had a screenplay by Frank Darabont. And after years in development, another new version of The Blob is inching glutinously ever closer towards us. Simon West (Con Air, Expendables 2) has just signed up to direct the film.
The Blob was previously growing under the Weinsteins' roof at Dimension, but is now taking shape at Goldcrest. Rob Zombie was attached to the Weinsteins' version for a while, and seemed to be talking about dispensing with any notions of big, red blobbiness. "That's the first thing I want to change," he said. "That gigantic Jello-looking thing might have been scary to audiences in the 1950s, but people would laugh now." He eventually moved on, however, presumably reasoning that another remake after two Halloweens was a bit much.
Six years on, new producers Richard Saperstein and Brian Witten (Stephen King adaptation Cell) seem a lot more enthusiastic about the source material. "We grew up on The Blob," thesy said in a joint statement. "Simon West has a terrific and terrifying vision for bringing this iconic outer-space creature to life for a new generation."
"With modern CGI we can now fully realise the potential of The Blob," says West. "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."
The original film's producer, Jack L. Harris, is among the team supervising the giant space jelly's rebirth, with shooting pencilled in for this summer. As with much else at the moment, The Blob will be aiming to do some deals at the European Film Market in Berlin next month, possibly over a glass of white wine, hot water and lemon.*
*Manchester joke.
from Empire News
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