Summary
- James Wan is set to create a remake of The Creature from the Black Lagoon.
- Remaking Creature from the Black Lagoon is a challenge due to its original 1954’s novelty.
- Wan’s experience and success in horror make him the ideal director for the remake.
James Wan is now in talks to remake The Creature from the Black Lagoon. Creature from the Black Lagoon was originally a 1954 monster horror film that told the story of a strange Amazonian beast that scientists are attempting to capture and bring back to study. Creature from the Black Lagoon was directed by Jack Arnold and featured a leading cast including Richard Carlson, Julie Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, and Nestor Paiva. Wan is a horror creator behind multiple successful franchises, and he is now associated with Blumhouse.
As per The Hollywood Reporter, Wan is now in talks to helm a remake of Creature from the Black Lagoon. Wan is working on the adaptation’s development, as he recently pitched the project to Universal with his collaborators. If he also directs the film, it will be Wan’s first directorial effort since Atomic Monster, his production company, merged with Blumhouse. Wan will also produce Creature from the Black Lagoon alongside executive producers Michael Clear and Judson Scott.
Creature From The Black Lagoon Is A Complicated Yet Exciting Remake
The Original Has A Unique Technical History
Remaking The Creature from the Black Lagoon may prove a somewhat Herculean task, as the original film has a lasting legacy of its genre. The original 1954 film was notable for being released in 3D, exposing audiences to a kind of spectacle that was rarely seen in its era. The depiction of the Creature has become iconic horror imagery, inspiring the designs of other genre characters such as the fish man in Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water.
There have been several previous unsuccessful attempts to remake Creature from the Black Lagoon, including from John Carpenter and Ivan Reitman in the 1990s.
In the seven decades since the release of The Creature from the Black Lagoon, 3D has become a ubiquitous option for the theater viewing experience. As a result, this technology does not have the same kind of novel appeal as it originally did. If anything, 3D is arguably overused now. This evolution in cinematic trends will provide a challenge for Wan’s remake as it hits theaters, for it will have to find a way to appeal to a modern audience that is not over-reliant on tired 3D tropes that were once considered unique.
That said, there could not be a better director to take on The Creature from the Black Lagoon than Wan. A visionary of the modern horror film, Wan has created some of the most successful horror franchises today, including the Saw and Conjuring franchises. He also has experience both behind the camera and in other creative capacities, showcasing the full extent of his Hollywood prowess. The Creature from the Black Lagoon may be a hard film to remake, but it is in great hands under Wan’s direction.
Source: THR
Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)
Creature from the Black Lagoon is a Universal creature feature that sees a group of scientists on a mission in the Amazon, who soon find that they’re not alone. Roaming in the swampland with them is a mysterious humanoid creature with amphibious traits who becomes infatuated with a female scientist, but it’s appearance strikes fear into the hearts of the intrepid explorers, leading to grave danger as a result.
- Director
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Jack Arnold
- Release Date
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February 12, 1954
- Studio(s)
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Universal Pictures
- Distributor(s)
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Universal Pictures
- Writers
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Harry Essex
- Cast
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Julie Adams
, Richard Denning - Runtime
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79minutes
- Budget
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$500,000
