February 28, 2009 Remakes, remakes, remakes! With so much horror remake news already receiving so much attention across the Web, it seemed like a wise idea just to do a recap here at ESplatter. We've got some news on the second "Friday the 13th" film from Michael Bay, a 3D "Birds" remake, and foreign remakes from Sam Raimi.

First up, "Friday the 13th Part 2 - the Remake." The Hollywood Reporter's Risky Biz Blog let it be known that the sequel is a go.

Jason's coming back.

The villain who's defied death more often than Evil Knievel is making another appearance on the big screen. Sources saying that New Line and Platinum Dunes are moving forward on a new “Friday the 13th" and that Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, who wrote the recently released reboot, beginning work on a script for a new picture.

There's a catch, though.

Unlike the sophomore efforts of other franchises, the new “Friday” is expected to be not a sequel so much as a follow-up, those familiar with the project say. Jason Voorhees will be the villain, of course, but the new picture is expected to use elements of the original franchise more as a jumping-off point than as a template.

The reason? The reboot drew from the first four pictures in the “Friday” series, and producers are said not to be keen on the plot elements of the half-dozen movies that followed. And Marcus Nispel, who directed the latest film, is a possible but unlikely candidate to helm the “Friday” follow-up; the director is believed to be fielding offers for movies across other genres.

Marcus Nispel may not return as director.

Meanwhile, another remake in the works for a long time (also from Michael Bay) is "The Birds." Brenna Lee Roth let it be known that the film is being shot in 3-D.

She told MarketSaw: "I am in talks with the producer of The Birds (remake) and he said he wanted to do it 3D ... Yes Clooney and Watts both attached so far."

Naomi Watts has been tipped as the lead actress taking over the Tippi Hendren role from the Hitchcock original. ...

Meanwhile, Sam Raimi's Ghost House Productions is planning to remake "Room 205" (the original of which is a Danish thriller, released by Ghost House on DVD last year) and "Anguish," the original of which is a Spanish thriller about two girls who end up in a horror movie while they are watching one. Sounds a bit like "Midnight Movie", doesn't it? Maybe "Midnight Movie" actually took the idea. The original "Anguish" was released in Spain way back in 1988.

And last but not least, producer Ray Haboush is working with Brian Yuzna on a "Re-Animator" remake -- which will be in 3-D as well!


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