In the immortal words of C-Rayz Walz: “I’ll throw fireballs in your face like a young Drew Barrymore!”
Y’all remember the 1984 pyrokinetic flick FIRESTARTER, in which the aforementioned Barrymore starred as a nine year old who could willfully start fires? Of course you do, it was based on Stephen King novel, right? Well, it looks like Universal wants to reheat the flame…as a franchise.
According to Variety, the studio is linking with Dino De Laurentiis Co. to do just that, rekindle FIRESTARTER. Word is the new version (or versions) will loosely adhere to the original King tome, though the lead character will be redeveloped as edgier. Mark L. Smith (SEANCE, VACANCY, THE HOLE) is currently hashing out the script, the details of which are being kept rather secret.
About the project, Martha De Laurentiis noted:
“We see this as a unique, character-driven thriller with a supernatural edge, based on a timeless concept and enhanced by recent visual effects advances.”
On Universal’s side of production, president Debbie Liebling says:
” ‘Firestarter’ has a great mythology and with Martha and Lorenzo’s vision we believe the franchise can be extended in a new and exciting direction.”
Universal plans to have the flick in production by sometime next year.
Alright, let’s hear it. Are you in favor of seeing FIRESTARTER relit, or is this just another example in a long line of sad, uninspiring remakes the horror genre continues to doll out?