Named one of the scariest films ever made by Martin Scorsese and a “masterpiece” by Guillermo del Toro, Peter Medak’s The Changeling – not to be confused with a certain Angelina Jolie-starrer – is getting the remake treatment, produced by Joel B Michaels, who was also behind the original, starring George C Scott. His character, as noted by uber-critic Roger Ebert, was the kind of man “who can return alone to another haunted house after dark, climb down into a forgotten well where the bones of the original ghost have been found, and rummage around for more clues”. Some people just never learn.

The new film, now heading to the Cannes Virtual Market, will be shot and set in Ireland, and as advertised by UK production company Cornerstone Films, it “will have a contemporary setting and, whilst paying tribute to the much-loved original, will introduce several new twists and turns from a script by Academy Award nominee Tab Murphy”. Murphy is also known for Brother Bear, which already makes it sound positively creepy. The story will follow Joe Carmichael, a musician who returns to his abandoned childhood home after suffering a tragic personal loss. Needless to say, he soon discovers that he has company, and that there is more to his family history than he could ever have imagined. Reportedly, the 1980 film’s screenplay was inspired by mysterious events that took place at the Henry Treat Rogers mansion in Denver, where writer Russell Hunter came to stay for a while. Also reportedly.

“I am overjoyed at having the unique opportunity to reimagine an updated version of the iconic film I produced so many years ago,” enthused Michaels in the press release. “It’s flattering to know that it proved to have inspired a rash of filmmakers that paid homage to the original film. I am excited to be working with Anders Engström, who will bring his own contemporary vision to the film.” Indeed – previously directed by Medak, the remake will now be helmed by Finnish-Swedish Anders Engström, who was behind such TV shows as Hanna and Taboo. “We are delighted to present The Changeling to the market, and we believe Anders’ vision will bring fresh scares and surprises to a new generation of filmgoers,” added Alison Thompson and Mark Gooder, of Cornerstone Films, which previously worked with Michaels on another remake – that of Susanne Bier’s After the Wedding [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Sisse Graum Jørgensen
intervista: Susanne Bier
scheda film]. Time to be scared.

The Changeling is being produced by Joel B Michaels, Uwe Schott and Stefan Arndt through Germany’s X-Filme, with Cornerstone Films’ Alison Thompson and Mark Gooder serving as executive producers.

Below is a reminder of the poster for the original The Changeling: