Screen Gems has hired Colin Minihan to direct a pseudo-remake the 1998 slasher film Urban Legend. While not officially described as a remake, the film will follow a similar premise to the original, revolving around a diverse cast of college students as they navigate a series of bizarre deaths that resemble urban legends.
However, this updated version means the urban legends are linked to the darkest corners of the internet. Minihan aims to develop an “iconic new slasher for the digital age in a world where internet urban legends are born and move at a terrifying pace”.
The 1998 film was developed in the wake of Scream‘s success much like other slashers such as I Know What You Did Last Summer, Cherry Falls and Final Destination. It holds up pretty well if you enjoy that era of horror. And this new version actually sounds like a solid idea, not just a lazy remake but a contemporary update focusing on much more modern fears.
Minihan may not be a household name, but he’s got a couple of good horror films under his belt. He directed the effective found-footage film Grave Encounters alongside Stuart Ortiz in 2011, before branching out on his own with his latest project, What Keeps You Alive, which contains a killer twist.
We’ll see what he terrifying internet-based urban legends he can discover to install fear into the next generation of horror fans. The project is reportedly being fast-tracked by Screen Gems, who are currently casting key roles.
#Peace.Love.UrbanLegend
