The Craft, that 1996 teen thriller that's become a cult classic, is getting the remake treatment. Also known as "Mean Girls with magic," the supernatural film, starring Fairuza Balk, Robin Tunney, Neve Campbell, and Rachel True, is set at a Catholic school, so it's as beloved for its style as it is for the teen witch plot line. It's lately enjoyed a healthy second life on Tumblr and other Internet forums, so that's probably why Sony is giving it a reboot.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, "Up-and-coming horror filmmaker Leigh Janiak will write and direct the new version...The news of a female director coming on board to direct a female-centric feature project is welcome news to Hollywood." Earlier this week, the ACLU filed documents asking state and federal agencies to investigate the film industry's systemic bias against hiring women to direct.
News of Janiak's hiring wasn't a direct response to the ACLU's actions, though; Sony execs told THR that the announcement had been in the works for weeks. Janiak, who's best known for the horror film Honeymoon, had impressed them "with her take on a female empowerment tale."
Not everyone is thrilled about The Craft getting remade, though. While it was far from a runaway success at the box office, it's gained a following in the years since. There are already reaction pieces to the news with headlines like "5 Reasons Sony Doesn't Need to Remake The Craft" circulating. Among those aforementioned reasons: "Fairuza Balk as Nancy." She was definitely an original, but we could imagine someone like Zendaya taking on the role.
Always remember: "Now is the time. This is the hour. Ours is the magic. Ours is the power." (The Hollywood Reporter)
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