Maybe you've noticed that there seem to be a lot of sequels and remakes cropping up in recent years. And you probably get the rationale behind revamping classic favorites: If something performed well the first time around, it's likely to do so again. Studio execs are understandably hungry for the prospect of a surefire hit, and there's nothing like a little bit of nostalgia to motivate audiences toward the box office.
So, perhaps the latest cult-classic revival isn't particularly surprising. Fatal Attraction, which hit theaters in 1987 starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close as the psychopath who stalks him, will soon become a one-hour event TV series under the wing of Paramount's growing television production department, Deadline reports.
The original movie was received positively by audiences and critics alike, and became a pivotal touchstone for future thrillers. It spent eight weeks in the No. 1 spot in the United States, ultimately grossing $156.6 million domestically and more than twice that amount internationally — making it the highest-grossing film worldwide that year. It's no wonder Paramount mined its archives and decided to sally forth with this redo. The company tapped Mad Men executive producers and writers Maria and Andre Jacquemetton to boot, and while there's no word on casting yet, we can imagine that at least one member will be a dead ringer for the original: that poor little white bunny.
Fatal Attraction isn't the only Paramount production making its way to today's small screen. The company reportedly has plans to adapt Shutter Island into a series for HBO, as well as American Gigolo. Many others are jumping on the reboot bandwagon, too, turning hits from decades past into today's top shows: Twin Peaks is reportedly returning in 2016, Minority Report is becoming a Fox series, both Clueless and The O.C. are getting stage musical adaptations — the list goes on and on.
But, while we're sure that fans of the original films will flock to these remakes, two things are certain: First, no one will ever be able to match Glenn Close's performance as a spurned lover turned sociopath. And, when studios recycle old hits, they might just miss out on the opportunity to take a risk — and win — on something wonderfully new. (Deadline)
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