Is The Abominable Dr. Phibes being rebooted as Phibes Lives 3D?

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

THIS IS AN APRIL FOOLS DAY JOKE…

Another reboot is coming, and this one hurts.

Fangoria is reporting the rights for 1971's THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES have been optioned by Twisted Pictures (the SAW franchise). No official news regarding this, other than the script has apparently been penned by SAW 4-7 and FEAST writers Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton, and the company might be eyeing Patrick Lussier (MY BLOODY VALENTINE 3D) to direct.

The original DR. PHIBES was directed by Robert Fuest and starred Vincent Price as a disfigured man who exacts revenge on the surgeons he believes allowed his wife to die by unleashing biblical plagues upon them. (Death by bats, bees, impalings ensue.) The film spawned a sequel, DR. PHIBES RISES AGAIN, one year later.

DR. PHIBES had a decidedly tongue-in-cheek tone, which is part of what makes it immensely entertaining; it's been a Halloween staple for me for many years now. Plus it's just damn weird. With Twisted Pictures in charge, it's a safe bet most of the comedy will be taken away in favor of SAW-like gore and torture. (Truth be told, one can find some of DR. PHIBES' influence in some of the SAW pics.)

“Phibes is one of horror’s most terrifying figures, and his story of avenging his lost love is timeless,” producer Carmen Rogers told Fangoria. “We hope that we can introduce Dr. Phibes as a tortured soul with a whole new set of tools, thanks to new technology, and hopefully he’ll be embraced like Jigsaw was for seven movies.”

Production is expected to begin this summer. I am having trouble accepting this one.

One of the many unusual deaths in DR. PHIBES