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Repeat Business: 30 Horror Film Franchises Getting A Restart

With an increasing number of films in development emerging as reboots, sequels or prequels –it’s only fair that the village bike of cinema, horror, gets her fair share. Each film in the following list has existed previously and varies from those in development to those awaiting release. Whether by remaking an already-existing film, rebooting a franchise via a new approach, reinterpreting the source material or re-editing an existing picture the chances are you’ve heard of them all before.

28. Harker

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Following on with another Universal token, Harker dons a new title for an old tale: Dracula. Under the direction of blood spatter expert, Eli Roth, Harker will focus the camera in the direction of one Jonathan Harker. Known in the cinematic Dracula canon as a Keanu-shaped sourpuss, Harker will this time take the form of a Scotland Yard detective on the hunt for the fanged one in London.

Warner Bros. have been trying to get the project going for a while but has run into various delays. But, with Russell Crowe confirmed as the pointy-toothed blood sucker, all we’re waiting for now is a leading man.

The flick is being touted as the first in a franchise – gasp – and was penned by Lee Shipman and Brian McGreevy. Don’t know who they are? They’re already bum chums with Roth, the Texas twosome also co-wrote and exec-produced Hemlock Grove – the Hostel director’s upcoming Netflix series; and the Zorro Reborn reboot.

As soon as the script and story are locked in, apparently they’ll settle on a leading man for the role of the sleuth. But who’s it gonna be? Gotta go with Cumberbatch.

27. Paranormal Activity 5

The question was never would they make another sequel, but when would they announce it? Mere days after Paranormal Activity 4 hit cinemas it was reported a fourth sequel would be produced in time for a Halloween 2013 release on October 25th. The fourth film’s opening weekend raked in $26.5 million – not as much as the previous sequels but not bloody bad for a film which cost $5 million to make.

At the moment there’s no definitive news on the direction the story will take. Chances are the scariest sounding demon in the world, Toby, will be there and Katie Featherston has confirmed her reappearance. A completely pointless Latino version of the film is also set for Spring 2013 to be directed by Disturbia writer, Christopher Landon, who also scribbled the first three PA sequels. What purpose it serves to hash out another tale when I’m sure Latinos everywhere are just as sick of the franchise as we are, is anyone’s guess (money?)

To dismiss Paranormal Activity now is an easy swipe, but somewhat deserved. The franchise started with an original premise and was scary to boot. Now though, the creativity and consideration prevalent in that first film has been exhausted, despite PA3 bringing aboard new talent and some clever gimmicks (the fan-cam – terrifying!)

We’ll keep you posted when further news lands on the Paranormal Activity franchise.

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