Last year, we heard that a reboot of the 2003 backwoods slasher WRONG TURN was in the works, with WRONG TURN writer Alan B. McElroy returning to the franchise he helped create to craft a "reinterpretation" of his own work. The WRONG TURN reboot is now in pre-production, and has already found its lead actress.
Directed by Rob Schmidt, the original WRONG TURN had the following synopsis:
Friends Jessie (Eliza Dushku) and Carly (Emmanuelle Chriqui) are traveling with pals Scott (Jeremy Sisto), Evan (Kevin Zegers) and Francine (Lindy Booth) when they have car trouble in West Virginia. Moments later, motorist Chris (Desmond Harrington) crashes into their disabled vehicle. Stranded, the friends discover that they're being stalked by a horde of backwoods cannibals. The woodsmen are hungry and fierce, and they'll be eating well unless Jessie and pals can outsmart them.
Set to be directed by Mike P. Nelson, the new take on the concept will star Charlotte Vega of THE LODGERS (pictured above) and AMERICAN ASSASSIN as Jes, one of
six friends from New York taking a hiking trip to the beautiful West Virginia Mountains who unwittingly fall prey to a savage sect known as The Foundation.
It's a little surprising to hear that McElroy stuck so closely to his original script that the female lead even has the same name (Jessie / Jes), but it sounds like he's mixing things up more in the villain department. Instead of a trio of inbred cannibals, the group who make this wrong turn will be running into a community that has been living in the mountains for more than 250 years.
I loved the first WRONG TURN, and while I got some enjoyment out of the sequels I always felt like this was a franchise that wasn't living up to its potential. Although I'd rather see a reboot that was still focused on Saw Tooth, One Eye, and Three Finger, I'm willing to give this "Foundation" a chance.
The WRONG TURN reboot is a Constantin Film production. McElroy is producing the film alongside Robert Kulzer and James Harris, with Martin Moszkowicz serving as executive producer. Mister Smith is presenting the project to potential buyers at the Cannes Film Festival.