ROTTEN TOMATOES: De Laurentiises Bless "Evil Dead" Remake ... and Want More "Hannibal"

De Laurentiises Bless "Evil Dead" Remake ... and Want More "Hannibal"

by Fred Topel | February 01, 2007

Sam Raimi is a bona fide mogul now with his Ghost House Pictures studio producing horror movies while he's off making "Spider-Man" movies. Back in the day, he needed Dino De Laurentiis's help to make the third "Evil Dead" film, "Army of Darkness." Now that Raimi plans to remake his original "Evil Dead" through Ghost House, De Laurentiis thinks it's a great idea.

"If he has the right idea, why not?" said the producer. "When I pushed Sam Raimi with everybody, they thought I was crazy because I was in love with younger people. I said, ‘I can be in love but not with younger people. I can be in love with talented people.’ If Sam Raimi is a fantastic talent, and he proved how talented he is, he is Sam Raimi, if he has an idea to remake a movie, let him do the movie."

Now joined by producer wife Martha De Laurentiis, she concurs with Dino's assessment. "Yes, he’s a genius," she said. "He’ll have a lot more money to make it with this time."
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Scott here. Dino D. has been all over the geek-wires lately, and here's what he had to say about the possibility of yet another Hannibal Lecter movie: "I presume that we created a success with this new franchise about young Hannibal Lecter, and I want to start to think about going ahead with the story." According to a report at MTV Movies, Dino wants to go deeper into the love story between the young Lecter and the "Hannibal Rising" character played by Gong Li.

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Celeb:	Sam Raimi
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Movie:	Spider-Man
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	Army of Darkness

(1-20 of 31 posts) | Reply

FluxCapacitor writes:
on Feb 01 2007 02:01 AM

[b]Money don't buy charm[/b]
The great thing about the classic Evil Dead films is that they didn't cost much to make. When they generated a passionate cult, it was like they belonged to the audience. A new version will likely be a steroid-enhanced product, pushed on us by whatever major distributor picks it up from Ghost House.

Plus, Raimi got through the original trilogy without one frame of CGI... I don't think that'll be the case with any remake. If it tries to echo the anarchic spirit of the classics with CG, we could end up with a Stephen Sommers-style catastrophe.

This preoccupation with remakes is currently the most disturbing thing about a genre that's best at showing us stuff we've never seen before. Horror is eating itself.

(Reply to this)

FILMCZY writes:
on Feb 01 2007 06:40 AM

In reply to this comment (#854477)
Agreed. It sounds like Raimi has been talking to G Lucas--"Go ahead Sam, make the movie you REALLY wanted to make now that CGI is available. It worked for me on the 'Star Wars' trilogy." The problem is Raimi DID remake "Evil Dead." It was called "EVIL DEAD 2"!!!

(Reply to this)

kenny356 writes:
on Feb 01 2007 06:44 AM

[b]silly question[/b]
If they made a true remake, would the tree rape scene make the movie nc-17?

(Reply to this)

the-russian writes:
on Feb 01 2007 08:24 AM

In reply to this comment (#854479)
But wasn't there a topic here a week ago about how the industry is trying to push the NC-17 rating?

(Reply to this)

The_Corrector writes:
on Feb 01 2007 08:46 AM

I wouldn't say horror is eating itself, it's more like Regurgitating

(Reply to this)

PrecentorEpsilonXVI writes:
on Feb 01 2007 08:58 AM

Well, if the hospitol scene with Doctor Octopus in the most recent Spider Man movie is any indication, I think he will do the original Evil Dead justice.

(Reply to this)

donkeytron writes:
on Feb 01 2007 09:18 AM

[b]Sam's lost the plot, man.[/b]
I'm already sick of all the Evil Dead garbage that's come out over the last decade. The endless double dip DVDs, the cheesy merchandise and the horrible video games all point to this remake being just as awful and tedious.

Raimi is not the director he was when he made the originals. He's Hollywood brass now and all of the things that made his little, low-budget movies wonderful have been swept away in a tidal wave of cash and merchandise.

I completely agree with the posters above, Sam has been talking to George Lucas and Spielberg and all the other big-shots who've forgotten what making a picture from the heart is all about. The SpiderMans, while good fun, aren't remotely as enjoyable as Sam's older work as his trademark stamps are barely even there. Anyone could have directed those movies but Evil Dead is a Sam Raimi film. Going big budget remake on them is a huge mistake.

I'm really starting to regret my decision to get an Ash tattoo. Not groovy.

(Reply to this)

nogard64 writes:
on Feb 01 2007 09:49 AM

man I love Dino De Laurentis, hes produced some of the most none mainstream/cult movies back in the days, movies other studios wouldnt touch! glad to see him back in the thick of things!

(Reply to this)

Darth_Ninch writes:
on Feb 01 2007 09:56 AM

In reply to this comment (#854478)
[b]Sam didn't remake The Evil Dead with Evil Dead 2.[/b]
He was originally going to use footage from the first movie to bring the audience up to speed at the beginning of #2, but for some reason, he didn't have the rights to use the footage, so he had to re-shoot the sections of #1 he originally wanted to use, but for #2. The same thing was done with Army of Darkness, which is why the scenes from #1 and #2 are filmed differently at the beginning of it.

Bottom line, Evil Dead 2 is in no way a remake of The Evil Dead; it was just a way of bringing the audience up to speed of what already occured in the story.

(Reply to this)

Sadistik writes:
on Feb 01 2007 10:23 AM

They will follow the "Horror Remake Rule Book"

1) Hot young things that everyone thinks they've seen before, but can't remember where.
2) One veteran actor slumming for a paycheck.
3) Music video director. First feature, so, hey, they're cheap!
4) As per 3, expect lot's of wide angle mayhem, hyperactive editing, primary color lighting (and not in the good Suspiria sort of way)
5) Refusal to screen for critics in hope of a good first weekend opening.
6) Touting of Sam Raimi's name, with no mention that he isn't the director.
7) Tons of CGI

(Reply to this)

frogleg writes:
on Feb 01 2007 10:33 AM

That's right, I've heard multiple times he is NOT going to direct. Bruce Campbell's never been mentioned (and I don't know why they'd use him since this is a remake anyway). I wish they'd just work out a sequel instead of a remake. It'd be nice to see Raimi directing the original Ash again!

(Reply to this)

Sadistik writes:
on Feb 01 2007 10:39 AM

In reply to this comment (#854487)
[b]Damn straight[/b]
A middle-aged Ash still fighting the Deadite scourge from his base at S-Mart corporate.

(Reply to this)

dagreenman18 writes:
on Feb 01 2007 12:43 PM

No Evil Dead W/o Bruce Campbell. get him, and you have a deal.

(Reply to this)

Pompiste writes:
on Feb 01 2007 01:38 PM

I can understand if Bruce can't play the lead role, but he MUST at least make a cameo. Otherwise, the cult from the first three films would scream in fury.

(Reply to this)

Film Fanatic writes:
on Feb 01 2007 01:52 PM

Why??

(Reply to this)

ImaRobot writes:
on Feb 01 2007 02:26 PM

In reply to this comment (#854490)
isn't that what we're already doing? lol. sometimes I genuinely think that (most) posters on sites like this are the only ones with common sense towards hollywood bs. evil dead were good because they were so campy. I picture any sort of remake taking itself far too seriously and aiming for a market that has never heard of bruce campbell before...it would be a shame.

(Reply to this)

aegresco writes:
on Feb 01 2007 04:06 PM

i don't think they can win in this situation. either they try to keep the campyness from the originals and it ends up feeling ridiculous and stupid with a big budget. or they take it way too seriously and we end up with a 3 hour cgi laden piece of shit that will appeal only to the stupid teens who have never seen the original and are the reason horror remakes keep getting made.

(Reply to this)

nosoupforyou writes:
on Feb 01 2007 06:09 PM

[b]BLEGH.[/b]
Raimi, if you do an Evil Dead remake, I will eat your face.

Just a warning.

(Reply to this)

Thundaar writes:
on Feb 01 2007 06:37 PM

Another remake? What's next - a remake of Bubba Ho-Tep?

(Reply to this)

grapeantler writes:
on Feb 01 2007 07:43 PM

Oh we all know the best thing Dino has ever indirectly been a part in was the birth of his granddaughter, Giada. Rowl.

(Reply to this)

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