it was announced last week that Doug Sarine and Kent Nichols - the madmen behind Askaninja.com - would be teaming up to bring us a remake of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes! Right after the announcement SpookyDan got in touch with the duo to talk about their aspirations for the film, which include the return of George Clooney and the hopes of casting Bruce Campbell!
The Return of the Attack of the Killer Tomatoes
It’s been 30 years since the original ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES was unleashed onto unsuspecting audiences, and in an exclusive interview we learned that the time has come once again for the Tomatoes to reclaim the spotlight. Will this be a huge CGI action packed film like Transformers, or a modest and heartfelt retelling of the tomatoes anguish over the years? Taking the helm this time around are the two dudes behind the internet phenomenon www.askaninja.com; Doug Sarine and Kent Nichols, with Nichols taking on the directing duties. We spoke to them the other day to found out for sure.
With the success of Askaninja, the duo had been looking to parley that momentum into a making a feature film, AOTKT seemed like the right fit. But really WHY remake THAT movie? Really…why? ”Just the name “Killer Tomatoes” puts a smile on peoples faces,” Sarine tells Bloody-Disgusting. “I love the late ‘70s and early ‘80s horror films where they started to add a lot more comedy to the genre. The idea was RIPE for a remake and if you watch the original you kind of see that they were going for, this certain charm of a bad “B” movie. We want to recapture that charm and the fact that these tomatoes are killing people for some unknown reason. The original is kind of like a broken down rusted out Cadillac, you know that underneath it is this beautiful classic!”
The two men who created a comedy show online may seem to some like a perfect match for this film, and when we spoke about horror, they revealed that they are also deeply rooted to the genre putting them in prime position for AOTK. ”I love action and horror… if I had to site some favorites I would say that I was most heavily affected by the early works of Dario Argento,” Sarine explains. “I don’t think I have ever been as creeped out as when I first watched SUSPIRIA, especially the last 15 minutes! In humor, I personally I am more in line with Sam Raimi or John Carpenter.” On casting AOTKT, Sarine adds that “It’s a bit early to talk casting, but we REALLY want George Clooney to be in it and we have a role in mind for Bruce Campbell as well!” While Clooney was in one of the sequels it remains to be seen if he will want to be attached to this film in some capacity. A horror-comedy with Campbell, Clooney and some killer tomatoes? This is starting to sound like a load of fun!
Ok, so the guys know comedy and they know horror, but will it deliver to the gore hounds or is this a PG-13 film? “We have already written some of the big sequences, where it is essentially a massive massacre,” Nichols continues, “[There will be] waves of blood and smashed tomatoes, but in the context you don’t know which is which, and we plan on pushing the envelope to do this. But were not going to hack off a guys limbs, but hey… you never know?” Sarine added, “I love the idea of the crime scene and the detective tasting the red goo to decipher if its tomato of blood, just to get to the point where you cant tell the difference between the two.”
With the huge success of the Aksaninja series, I had to know, are they funding AOTKT with the earnings from that? Sarine explains, “Actually no, this is our first attempt in Hollywood to do something that isn’t just the two of us in an apartment. We will continue to film the ninja stuff on a weekly basis (even through filming) as we have been doing for the last two years. It’s a really fun time for us right now. We are still just a two people and to see this grow and watch it compete with major media situations is amazing and funny. Our audience is largely between 13 and 30 years old, and I doubt many have seen the original.”
Sarine concludes by talking about the power of the internet, “We love that we have somehow become a catalyst for people to make their marks in Hollywood. I firmly believe that people can prove themselves using online video, it’s the way to get some notice an ideally make some money as well. Right now the web video world is a wide-open place where there are no rules, like back in the ‘80s with home video. So the entrepreneurs can really make their mark, without anyone between you and the viewer... no studios no marketing teams!”
I could be wrong, but I DOUBT Clooney would return. Campbell on the other hand, MIGHT.
Then again, I could be wrong. But I definately don't see Clooney going anywhere near this.
Ask A Ninja is ridiculously funny. These guys are talented comic writers, and I'm excited that Hollywood is letting people who are actually funny write a comedy.
So, there is ZERO chance in HELL that Clooney will be in this. Let's be honest here people, he does indie, dramatic films now, with the exception for the dry comedy once and again, but he won't do this, since it had big budget B-Movie written all over it. I think it will feel more like Death Proof or Planet Terror in spirit, just not designed to look like them. Either way, Clooney will be a no-go, anyone with half a brain can figure that out.
Well,Clooney has been appearing in the Spy Kids saga, hasn't he? i mean, I am a Rodriguez Fan, but they are hardly Drama-Oscar material, who know? In any case, making a true Horror/comedy tomatoes movie would be the only real reason to make a remake (the sequel was really funny)and it would fell indeed, like "Grindhouse" (cool) and like the guys said, just the name itself.....It's catchy or something..
I just watched Clooney in Return to Horror High last night and I said to myself "You will never see Clooney in another horror film". Thats pretty funny news.
George Clooney might see the financial gains in this movie, seeing as it will just be an advertisers wet dream. The name of the film itself adds interest. If this movie gets a bigger cult fan base than it already had/has, then KERCHING!!!!!
aerollica, remember what happened to a film called GRINDHOUSE???! Wait, did I put that in all caps?! Oh yes, yes I did. Well, I think a AOTKT remake will get the same theatrical treatment that Grindhouse got unless they manage to hit it just at the right time. I mean, who in the hell thought that Saw would be a series? "Certainly not I," said the fly. If not for the Halloween season, I have a feeling Saw would have already died.
well I agree that the Killer Tomatoes movie will only really thrive if they release it at a certain time of year and also depending on cast members too. Yes it will get so much publicity but publicity only gets people interested, its word of mouth of people whom have seen it, that brings the masses. I do not agree with the comment about Saw though. I think that franchise would have happened regardless, because it had taken horror to a new level, with regards to people having their morals and values tested. A common factor in any walks of life. Whereby their choice was live and suffer horribly or die a painful death. With the first Saw especially, instigating huge interest.
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It’s been 30 years since the original ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES was unleashed onto unsuspecting audiences, and in an exclusive interview we learned that the time has come once again for the Tomatoes to reclaim the spotlight. Will this be a huge CGI action packed film like Transformers, or a modest and heartfelt retelling of the tomatoes anguish over the years? Taking the helm this time around are the two dudes behind the internet phenomenon www.askaninja.com; Doug Sarine and Kent Nichols, with Nichols taking on the directing duties. We spoke to them the other day to found out for sure. 
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