Bret Ratner and Eddie Murphy are slotted to bring us a remake of The Incredible Shrinking Man. We get this sombre news from our friends at comingsoon:
Brett Ratner is in negotiations to direct Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment’s remake of The Incredible Shrinking Man. Brian Grazer is producing the project, which has Eddie Murphy attached to star, says The Hollywood Reporter.
An updated version of the best-selling novel and 1957 sci-fi classic starring Grant Williams, “Man” is taking the comedic approach to the fantastical material, telling the story of a famous Las Vegas magician who is put under a spell that causes him to shrink. He must find a way to reverse the spell before he gets so small that he “disappears.”
Oh remake train, cursed remake train, when will you fall off your tracks and plummet into the canyon of yesterday. We talk about it often, and lament it much, but the amount of remakes that continue to be made is peculiar. I suppose they are easy to whip off, and the title already has a familiarity for advertising purposes; but it’s really just starting to feel wrong. A flippant, half-assed remake is not in the best interest of anyone other that those cashing the checks. I lament passing on news of them, and wish they would stop.
I love Eddy Murphy and very much want this prodigal son to return to excellence. He can do what he wants, but Eddy starring in shitty comedies is like Mozart write music for soap operas. Delirious is a film that first showed me the potential of stand up comedy. Coming to America, Beverly Hills Cop, Trading Places were all hilarious and films I will still watch over and over again. Everyone knows Eddy is hilarious, but more and more people are starting to give up hope for a return to something great. I cannot do this no matter how horrible the project (this one included); with hope, Eddy will return to greatness and all of us must be ready to celebrate when (if) it happens.
First of all, let me say I’m a huge fan of both the book and the original movie. There are 2 reasons why I’d like to see a serious remake of it:
1. So the new generations get to know this classic (a very underrated movie, that deserves more attention).
2. So the new version could include several “details” that appear in the book, and were left out in the original movie, that could give it a deeper, even darker meaning: his sexual frustrations, his lost of authority (to his daughter), and a lot of themes that could provide more layers into the story. These details were maybe too strong for the 50’s, but could work these days, with a smart script.
Yes, “shrinking” could be kind of ridiculous in these modern times, leaving modern writers no other vehicle than a “magic spell”, but the important thing about The Shrinking Man is not “how it happened”. That’s just a device. What’s important is the serious and psicological, existentialist journey of the main character. I’d like to see it played by a more serious actor, maybe someone like Russel Crowe, or Christian Bale.
I agree. This is a remake that NEEDS to be serious and needs a serious actor: if it get’s both of those it could actually be brilliant. I love the idea of them remaking Shrinking Man because I loved it so much and to watch it again from a modern angle would be beautiful. Which is why I’m pretty upset Eddie Murphy is in it. He’s just too slapstick and I couldn’t take him seriously. Pity, guess I’ll just have to wait for the Fantastic Voyage remake to come out instead.
Eddie Murphy? Couldn’t they have tried this with a fresh, young actor at least? And not a freakin comedy? And not in Las Vegas? And not virtually everything about it now? I actually really want to see this movie remaked (we haven’t had a shrinking movie since the 80s) but can’t they just get it right, it’s not that difficult if you have half an understanding of cult classics.
That’s exactly what i was going to say Godfather.
But he did make Norbit which was Nutty Professor in a different wrapper and people saw it. I’ll be honest; i don’t like Eddie Murphy. I haven’t for a long long time and i have given up on him.
Ugh!
You lost me with “Eddie Murphy attached to star”.
Like many of the remakes that we’re seeing today, the original movie is excellent. I watched it in a film class called “Heroes and Monsters in the Movies” in college and was pleasantly surprised. One of the things that makes it great is that it’s a serious film, not a comedy.
Isn’t this movie already coming out, only he’s a shrunken alien? With Eddie Murphy, is there really a difference?