The old saying “sometimes dead is better” that apparently only applies to animals and people interred in a haunted ancient Indian burial site, and not the horror movies made about them. Paramount is bringing yet another Stephen King cinematic great back to life with a Pet Sematary remake set for 2019.
In news we came across at EW, the studio has announced they are rebooting Stephen King’s 1983 novel, about corpses who come back to life as demonic, murderous versions of themselves after being buried in an evil cemetery located in Maine, with a release date scheduled for April 19, 2019. The original version was released in 1989, with King himself writing the screenplay, and there was a second film released in 1992. If you’ve seen the sequel you know why there wasn’t a third. This latest variant will be a remake of the original rather than another attempt at a follow-up.
The new film will be directed by Kevin Kolsch and Dennis Widmyer (Starry Eyes, Scream: The TV Series), with Jeff Buhler (The Midnight Meat Train) penning the script.
After the smash success of this year’s IT movie remake, which helped Hollywood to the most successful year ever for horror films at the box office, it’s not hard to see why Paramount would be interested in giving this property another go ’round. The original movie is creepy and has its own charms, but it’s far from great. (Although good luck to the actor that has to fill the late Fred Gwynne’s giant shoes as the kindly old neighbor Jud, since he’s the best part of the original.)
Of course, sometimes dead is better, so hopefully the remake doesn’t fall prey to its movie’s own message.
Are you excited for this remake? Or do you love the original too much to want to see them try it again? Don’t keep your ideas buried, bring them to life in our comments below.
Images: Paramount Pictures
More in Stephen King news!
- Read our review of the new Misery Blu-ray
- Are You Afraid of the Dark? movie nabs It screenwriter
- The latest on the Dark Tower TV series
