Do it again: 7 Wilmington film projects remade (and one with potential) – StarNewsOnline.com

Hunter Ingram|Wilmington StarNews

WILMINGTON In its nearly four decades in the business, the local film industry has brought to life places near and far, real and make believe.

Its deep bench of crew havecreated Jules Vernes legendary Mysterious Island, Tony Starks Iron Man lair, aMuppets adventure to space, the cursed town of Sleepy Hollow, the bustling metropolis of New York City and more than a few dystopian landscapes.

With so many narratively rich places in its filmography, its no wonder Hollywood wants to dip back into some of these stories for updated takes or, in some cases, another stab at capturingmagic. Since their initial productions, several of Wilmingtons most prominent film and TV projects have already been or are in the process of being remade.

Most notably, it was announced this week the 1997 horror movie I Know What You Did Last Summer had become the latest with a new Amazon series adaptation starting production in Hawaii.

Heres a look at what other local projects have been or will be remade including one case where its original creator is pleading for a redo.

This Kevin Williamson-scripted horror movie is best known for its cast, which included then-rising stars Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr. and Ryan Phillippe. Shot primarily in and around Southport, the movie and fish hook-wielding villain was part of the golden age of 1990s slasher films following on the heels of Williamsons own Scream.

Amazon is producing a new series based on the story, originally based on Lois Duncans book. Like its predecessor, the new series will star a cast of up and comers led by Myrtle Beach-native Madison Iseman.

More: WilmOnFilm Flashback: I Know What You Did Last Summer

More: PHOTOS: I Know What You Did Last Summer

Wilmingtons pioneering production starring a pint-sized and flammable Drew Barrymore has long been aremake candidate, having not aged so well but remaining a compelling Stephen King story. On the 35th anniversary of the films production in 2019, Martha De Laurentiis, who produced the original with her late husband and the father of the local industry, Dino, confirmed on the StarNews podcast Cape Fear Unearthed she had previously tried to mount a sequel with Jennifer Lawrence in the grown-up role of Charlie, the little girl Barrymore played who could conjure fire with her mind.

In September 2020, news arrived that De Laurentiis was teaming with Jason Blum and his new-age horror production studio Blumhouse to remake the film with Zac Efron already on board to star as a new Charlies protective father.

More: Firestarter lit a fire in local film that still burns 35 years later

PHOTOS: Firestarter turns 35

One of Wilmingtons most infamous productions has also been one of its hardest to replicate, even though many have tried. In March 1993, actor Brandon Lee tragically died after being accidentally shot by a malfunctioning prop gun on the Wilmington set of The Crow. The film was near completion and eventually released to acclaim and later cult classic status.

As early 2008, many attempts have been made to remake it with huge stars like Mark Wahlberg, Bradley Cooper, Ryan Gosling, Luke Evans and Channing Tatum all rumored at one time or another for the lead role. In 2018, Game of Thrones actor Jason Mamoa signed on to the project but it also fell apart. Currently, there isnt any word if a remake will happen but people will undoubtedly continue to try.

One of the regions earliest projects ushered in the first screen appearance from legendary cinematic villain Hannibal Lecter. In Michael Manns Manhunter, he was played by Brian Cox before Anthony Hopkins took over the role on the way to an Oscar.

Hopkins would play him again in 2001s Hannibal produced by the De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, and then once more in Red Dragon, a remake of Manhunters original source material Thomas Harris Red Dragon. The characters would again reconvene played by different actors on NBCs lavishly bloody Hannibal.

The heroes in the half shell shot their first big-screen adventure on a New York backlot at what is now EUE/Screen Gems Studios for 1990s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The heavily puppeteered film, featuring the involvement of Jim Henson, may have been the first but it certainly hasnt been the last.

Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael were then animated for 2007 TMNT and later returned to the live-action world for 2014s big-budget Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and 2016s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows.

More: Crew from 1989s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles looks back on experience

More: WilmOnFilm Flashback: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The one-and-done darkly comedic horror CBS series from 1995 about a small South Carolina town with a supernaturally emboldened sheriff has been called ahead of its time.

Twenty-one years later, CBS decided to test that theory by resurrecting the show literally in name only for a summer run that, again, only lasted one season. Nothing really connected the two shows beyond their names, home network and short runs.

This one might be a stretch but it comes from the mouth of the maestro of horror himself. Stephen King was initially on board for CBS locally shot adaptation of his brick-sized book Under the Dome, and even wrote the second season premiere and cameoed in the episode. But as time went on and the three-season series (2013-2015) veered even farther from his book, King began recanting his approval.

Four years after it ended, King took to Twitter with a plea. How about Netflix bringing back UNDER THE DOME, only starting from scratch and actually doing the book? he tweeted. It remains to be seen if Netflix or anyone else will take him up on the offer.

PHOTOS: Under the Dome filming in Burgaw

More: Burgaw, Southport, Wilmington offer scenery for Under the Dome

Reporter Hunter Ingram can be reached at 910-343-2327 or Hunter.Ingram@StarNewsOnline.com.

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Do it again: 7 Wilmington film projects remade (and one with potential) - StarNewsOnline.com

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero