Cinedigm remaking 10 AIP titles within a single shared movie universe

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

If you were disappointed by the news that Universal's upcoming monsters universe films have been taken 'out of the horror genre' and will be more action-oriented, there's another shared universe series of films coming our way that promises to be more up your alley.

Variety is reporting that Cinedigm is launching a reinvention of American International Pictures exploitation titles in a 10-picture project within a single movie universe that is said to be 'unpretentious' and 'R-rated'. I gotta say, this sounds pretty badass.

Cinedigm is teaming with producers Lou Arkoff (INSPECTOR GADGET), Jeff Katz (SNAKES ON A PLANE) and Hal Sadoff (HOTEL RWANDA) to shoot the 10 films with storylines and characters as part of a single story arc. The films will be shot starting in September with cast and directors to be announced soon.

Katz has written all 10 films, which are based on GIRLS IN PRISON, VIKING WOMEN AND THE SEA SERPENT, THE BRAIN EATERS, SHE-CREATURE, TEENAGE CAVEMAN, REFORM SCHOOL GIRLS, THE UNDEAD, WAR OF THE COLOSSAL BEAST, THE COOL AND THE CRAZY, and THE DAY THE WORLD ENDED.

Cinedigm will handle the theatrical release, DVD, digital, TV and nontheatrical formats including on CONtv, Cinedigm’s upcoming digital network targeted to the Comic-Con audience.

Lou Arkoff, son of AIP founder Samuel Arkoff, says of this new shared universe…

“In a unique twist on the current filmmaking model, all 10 films will shoot back-to-back and share a single movie universe with a big recurring cast of antiheroes, monsters and bad girls. This format will allow our casts and directors to build a strong relationship with the characters — and our audience — over the course of several films.”

Katz calls the hybrid format “binge-viewing at the feature film level” and added…

“Each movie in this series has a complete beginning, middle and end, yet watched over all 10 films we’re really telling one larger, epic story. These are very much, at heart, indie comic book movies. Unpretentious. R-Rated. It’s fantastic to have a distribution model that fits that sensibility.”

I think this is actually quite brilliant and truthfully I have higher hopes for this shared universe than what Universal plans on doing with their classic monsters series.

We'll keep you updated on casting and other news regarding this new shared universe. This ought to be a lotta fun!