There has been plenty of chatter about a remake of the 1980 horror staple The Changeling for years, but it now looks like the new film will finally become a reality.
Deadline reports that Anders Engstrom has signed on to helm the remake that has been written by Tab Murphy. Engstrom–who has three decades of credits on his resume–has applied his trade primarily on the small screen, with his recent efforts being on Taboo for FX and on Hannah for Amazon.
Other attempts to remake the original thriller included one try back in 2014, when Jeremy Lovering was expected to write and direct the film, and another in 2018, when it was announced that Mark Steven Johnson was to write and direct a version of The Changeling that would have been set in Venice, Italy.
Neither of those attempts came to fruition and produced a remake of the original movie that starred George C. Scott. That film, as some fans may recall, told the story of John Russell, whose life is shattered when he loses his wife and daughter to a terrible car accident.
According to the film’s official synopsis, Russell then leaves New York City for a secluded house near Seattle. “Soon, Russell starts to feel the presence of a ghost, a boy who drowned in the bathtub there. Russell seeks the assistance of Claire Norman, who led him to the house initially, in uncovering the secrets of the boy’s death.”
Building on that storyline, it was reported that Murphy’s screenplay for the remake–which will be filmed in Ireland–will contain “several new twists and turns.”
Joel B. Michaels, who produced the original movie, will act in the same capacity for the remake, along with Uwe Schott and Stefan Arndt. Cornerstone Films is setting up the project, with Alison Thompson and Mark Gooder serving as executive producers.
Michaels said he is “overjoyed at having the opportunity to reimagine an updated version of the iconic film The Changeling that I produced so many years ago.” He added that he is “excited to be working with Anders Engstrom, who will bring his own contemporary vision to the film.”
Keep reading Horror News Network for all updates on the remake of The Changeling.
