Screen Gems is currently fast tracking a new Urban Legend film with What Keeps You Alive's Colin Minihan set to write and direct the thriller. Deadline reports the new take on the '90s classic is currently casting the key roles.
The site notes that Urban Legend "will introduce an iconic new slasher for the digital age in a world where internet urban legends are born and move at a terrifying pace."
"The movie will center on a diverse cast of college students as they navigate a series of bizarre deaths that resemble urban legends linked to the darkest corners of social media."
There isn't any news on whether this film will be a remake or a reboot (yes, there's a difference, just watch Jay and Silent Bob Reboot for a perfect explanation), or something completely different that's just pulling the name from the 1998 Jamie Blanks-directed slasher, much like last year's The Banana Splits and the Blumhouse's upcoming Fantasy Island.
Mike Medavoy, producer on the original Urban Legend, and Benjamin Anderson will produce for Phoenix Pictures. Eric Paquette and Michael Bitar will oversee for Screen Gems.
Personally, I think Minihan is a great choice. I'm a fan of the aforementioned What Keeps You Alive (read my review) and his previous directorial efforts, It Stains the Sand Red, Extraterrestrial and Grave Encounters.
The first film, which starred Jared Leto, Alicia Witt, Rebecca Gayheart and Robert Englund, told the story of a college student who suspects a series of bizarre deaths are connected to certain urban legends. Urban Legend was followed by two sequels: Urban Legends: Final Cut, which was released theatrically in 2000, and the direct-to-video film Urban Legends: Bloody Mary in 2005.
The first two films were written by the late Silvio Horta. Scream Factory also released both on Blu-ray back in 2018.
Stay tuned for more details.
