Movies
‘Creature from the Black Lagoon’ Taps New Director for Revival
I’ve been dreaming of a big budget Creature from the Black Lagoon ever since it was rumored all of those years ago. While it looks like the creature may (finally) rise once again, I’m fearful that if The Wolfman tanks, so will this project. And if Wolfman is a terrible movie, what does that mean for our beloved Creature if the same studio is behind it? I shutter to think about it. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, who knows what the future holds, and Universal has hired a new director to replace Breck Eisner. Who is it? Read on for the skinny.
Universal Pictures is in early talks with Carl Erik Rinsch to direct “Creature From The Black Lagoon,” the remake of the 1954 U film about an undersea creature that terrorizes a scientific expedition.
Strike Entertainment’s Marc Abraham and Eric Newman produce with Gary Ross.
Deal would be the second big U picture for Rinsch, who will make his feature directing debut on “47 Ronin,” the epic period samurai swordsmen tale that takes place in 18th Century Japan, and will star Keanu Reeves. That picture is expected to begin production next year.
Rinsch shoots highly visual commercials for RSA owners Ridley and Tony Scott. The Scotts once courted Rinsch to direct a prequel to “Alien,” until Ridley Scott decided to helm that film, returning to a franchise he originated.
Universal has been keen to reprise “Creature,” one of its most famous monster franchises. In a previous incarnation, the studio had Breck Eisner attached to direct a script by Ross, whose father, Arthur A. Ross, co-wrote the original.
Movies
Julia Garner Joins Horror Movie ‘Weapons’ from the Director of ‘Barbarian’
In addition to Leigh Whannell’s upcoming Universal Monsters movie Wolf Man, Julia Garner (The Royal Hotel) has also joined the cast of Weapons, THR has announced tonight.
Weapons is the new horror movie from New Line Cinema and director Zach Cregger (Barbarian), with Julia Garner joining the previously announced Josh Brolin (Dune 2).
The upcoming Weapons is from writer/director Zach Cregger, who will also produce alongside his Barbarian producing team: Roy Lee of Vertigo and J.D. Lifshitz and Raphael Margules of BoulderLight Pictures. Vertigo’s Miri Yoon also produces.
The Hollywood Reporter teases, “Plot details for Weapons are being kept holstered but it is described as a multi and inter-related story horror epic that tonally is in the vein of Magnolia, the 1999 actor-crammed showcase from filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson.”
Cregger was a founding member and writer for the New York comedy troupe “The Whitest Kids U’Know,” which he started while attending The School of Visual Arts. The award-winning group’s self-titled sketch comedy show ran for five seasons on IFC-TV and Fuse. He was also a series regular on Jimmy Fallon’s NBC series “Guys with Kids” and the TBS hit series “Wrecked,” and was featured in a recurring role on the NBC series “About a Boy.”
Weapons will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.