Despite the tepid success of 1983’s Twilight Zone: The Movie, Warner Bros. is ready for a new Twilight Zone film, having already signed Matt Reeves (Cloverfield) to direct. Now it appears that the studio, along with Appian Way Productions, is attempting to recruit screenwriter Joby Harold to pen a final draft of the screenplay.
Harold, the writer-director behind the 2007 crime thriller Awake, already has experience reworking scripts for Warner Bros. He recently rewrote the screenplay for the studio’s upcoming sci-fi actioner All You Need is Kill, to be directed by Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity) with a cast that includes Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. Additionally, Harold penned The Key Man, a thriller that legendary filmmaker Brian De Palma (The Untouchables) is attached to direct.
According to Variety, the studio initially recruited Sherlock Holmes screenwriter Anthony Peckham to spruce up Jason Rothenberg’s first draft of the Twilight Zone script. Understandably, Warner Bros. wanted a writer with a sci-fi background, as well, which is why they’re trying to bring Harold onboard.
The 1983 adaptation was divided into four vignettes, each with a different director, and three of the stories were based closely on a specific episode of the original television series. Despite the fact that talented filmmakers like John Landis (The Blues Brothers), Steven Spielberg, Joe Dante (Gremlins), and George Miller (Mad Max) helmed each of the four segments, the final product was neither a major box office or critical success.
The new remake will reportedly consist of a single storyline, which could be beneficial, allowing themes and questions to be more thoroughly examined throughout. However, it’s unclear if this reboot will be another reworked adaptation of an existing episode or an entirely new story simply presented in the style of the show. The idea of a thoroughly modern tale being given the classic Twilight Zone treatment sounds far more intriguing than merely rehashing one of the series’ plotlines, since any direct remake will likely pale in comparison to the original.
The project is apparently still only in pre-production, but prospects look good considering a director is attached and a script is being finalized. Appian Way Productions, also backing the venture, has Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Davisson Killoran and Michael Ireland producing The Twilight Zone.
Are you looking forward to this reboot, Screen Ranters? Let us know in the comments.
