We've got a nice little casting update on MGM and Fox 2000's upcoming POLTERGEIST remake as Deadline reports that "Mad Men" and THE QUIET ONES star, Jared Harris, will take on the leading role in the film. He will play Carrigan, a larger than life TV personality who left the world of academia behind to become the star host of basic cable TV show "Haunted House Cleaners". I'm a big fan of Harris' work, especially on AMC's "Mad Men", and I think he's a great choice as far a capable leading man goes. Even though it's shitty seeing some of our favorite horror films getting remade, it lessens the sting a bit when you see talented actors like Harris take on a role in the film.
I'm notoriously optimistic when it comes to remakes simply because complaining about them isn't going to make them go away. All you can really do is just sit back and hope for the best because at the end of the day they aren't all terrible. A POLTERGEIST remake on the other hand is one I always hoped wouldn't happen. To me, Tobe Hooper's 1982 classic is the perfect horror film; the pacing is spot on and the flick still holds up today after 31 years which is pretty damn impressive. This one certainly has a pretty big hill to climb and I have a hard time seeing it stand out from the original — time will tell!
Dubbed a revisionist take on the original film, the new story centers on a family struggling to make ends meet that relocates to an outdated suburban home and is confronted by an angry spirit who kidnaps their youngest daughter and challenges them to band together to rescue her from the clutches of evil.
Gil Kenan is directing from a script by David Lindsay-Abaire reimagining the 1982 Tobe Hooper horror classic. Rosemarie DeWitt was cast in the pic in July. The film is expected to begin shooting this fall. We'll keep you folks posted as this one moves along.