Blumhouse's remake of Stephen King's Firestarter still on the way

Blumhouse’s remake of Stephen King’s Firestarter still on the way

April 20th 2020, 4:29pm

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Stephen King adaptations are hot commodities right now. IT and IT 2 were box-office smashes, HBO's THE OUTSIDER is getting a second season, and J.J. Abrams is executive producing a big-budget SHINING prequel series for HBO Max called THE OVERLOOK. Even when there's a dud here and there – like THE DARK TOWER – it seems to be an exception that proves the rule more than anything else. So it makes sense that studios are trying to pilfer more King adaptations, while also hedging their bets with more recognizable commodities. Which is why Blumhouse is currently pursuing a FIRESTARTER remake, which originally was a 1984 Drew Barrymore vehicle that

centers on an organization called the Department of Scientific Intelligence, aka "The Shop." Two participants in their mysterious research program end up getting married and having a child. Their offspring, Charlie McGee, inherited pyrokinetic powers from her parents, who were given a low-grade hallucinogen called "Lot Six" during their college years. Now the government is trying to apprehend the young Charlie in order to harness her powerful and unique skills as a weapon.

Meanwhile Movieweb interviewed the writer of the FIRESTARTER remake Scott Teems – who is also co-writing the previously reported on HALLOWEEN KILLS – and this is what he had to say about the film's status:

I'm still the writer. We just got a new director named Keith Thomas and he made a great film called The Vigil coming up this year, and Universal and Blumhouse, they want to make Firestarter. It has always been an important project to them. I think we're making active steps toward that happening this year. You know, the industry shut down notwithstanding, and that may change things, but right now, I'm really hopeful that it might happen this year.

No official release date for the film as of yet, but if production were to start later this year, then 2021 would be the earliest projection – but since it's also a VFX heavy film (what with the fire starting and all) even that might be too optimistic.

But what do you guys think? You down for a FIRESTARTER remake? And what other Stephen King films should get remakes, if any? Either way, sound off below!