While I’ve felt from the start that remaking the Eric Red classic THE HITCHER is simply a colossal mistake, the studio has continued to make it seem even less likely to work through their determination to make it young.
From hiring music video director Dave Meyers to helm the bastard, to snagging WB youngling Sophia Bush as the female lead (’cause now the Hitcher is stalking a couple), everything about this disaster in the making has screamed market to teens! I’m still waiting for word that it’ll be PG-13.
But I will give credit where credit is due, and they’ve finally gotten something right. The Hollywood Reporter has dropped the news that Sean Bean will take over the role of The Hitcher. While I don’t think anyone could out-do Rutger Hauer’s tour de force performance in the original, if I have to watch this monstrosity in action, I’m glad it will at least have The Bean in it.
Unfortunately this good casting news doesn’t change the overwhelming reality that this remake is pretty well guaranteed to suck on a WHEN A STRANGER CALLS kinda level.