Neve Campbell signs for Scream 4, as Dimension focus on sequels and remakes

[Paul Martin]

Creative conservatism appears to be the order of the day over at Dimension Films, with company boss Bob Weinstein outlining a slate of forthcoming projects that is dominated by sequels and remakes. Amongst the movies in development is a fourth instalment in the Scream franchise, which will see Neve Campbell reprising her lead role as the knife-dodging Sidney Prescott. Production is apparently set to start in spring of next year, with the new episode representing the opening chapter in a fresh three-film cycle. And, in addition to the returning Campbell, it looks likely that Wes Craven will be settling back into the director’s chair.           

Indeed, horror movies dominate the announced Dimension roster, with several of these productions also being shot in 3D. Amongst those set to force audiences to pay out for a pair of specs will be new versions of Scanners and Hellraiser, as well as a proposed Halloween III. There are also planned remakes of Children of the Corn and An American Werewolf in London, both of which are set to go before the cameras unembellished. It is not all blood ’n’ guts either, as Robert Rodriguez is set to deliver Spy Kids 4 (also in 3D) and 80s family-friendly robot-flick Short Circuit is poised to receive the remake treatment.

This selection of new movies from Dimension certainly looks a tad inspirationally impoverished, with fresh concepts and exciting ideas being apparently as elusive as a greased-up Will o’ the Wisp. Scream III already seemed a movie too far in that particular series, and those revisions of Children of the Corn and American Werewolf both appear poorly conceived (albeit for totally different reasons). I’m not wholly convinced anyone has been hanging on for a three-dimensional take on Pinhead and the Cenobites from Hellraiser either (although did anyone else think there were similarities between the Alan Smithee-credited, fourth-in-the-series Hellraiser: Bloodline and Darren Aronofsky’s The Fountain? Just me again, eh?)       

So is there any way at all to draw some pleasure from Dimension’s upcoming line-up? Well, it does give me the opportunity to dig out the clip from Scanners of mentalist Michael Ironside making someone’s head explode. Which is surely never a bad thing... 

Sources: Variety, Dark Horizons
 

[dalmatianjaws]

Wow, this makes me want to watch the first Scream.

The fact that they want to remake An American Werewolf in London, a movie with such a boring premise that its artistic success can only be attributed to that particular execution, proves that even the studios don't understand why established properties do well.

*sigh*

Also, Never Campbell has always been incredibly hot to me for some reason.

[Sheridan Passell]

Was that name a typo? Because it's brilliant.

[dalmatianjaws]

Er ... YES. YES IT WAS.