Sleight director J.D. Dillard in talks to write & direct a remake of The Fly

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

David Cronenberg's THE FLY is highly regarded as one of the best horror films of the 1980's, it also holds the distinction of being one of the few remakes out there to equal, or even surpass, the original. Cronenberg's film was a remake of the 1958 film of the same name starring Vincent Price, which itself was adapted from a short story by George Langelaan. There have long been rumours of a new remake of THE FLY, and now Deadline reports that J.D. Dillard may be the man for the job.

The outlet reports that J.D. Dillard, who made his feature directorial debut with SLEIGHT, is currently in negotiations to co-write and direct THE FLY. Dillard would tackle the script with writing partner Alex Theurer for Twentieth Century Fox, and it seems that Fox is looking at the project as a potential franchise. Everything's a franchise if you try hard enough. I've certainly got no problem with yet another return to THE FLY, but it doesn't help that it would be following in the footsteps of the excellent work of David Cronenberg, Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis. If J.D. Dillard is able to find a fresh approach, much like Cronenberg did, and give us something different, I might just have some interest in this project. I've also got my fingers crossed for as many practical effects as a modern-day film can muster.

SLEIGHT, which Dillard directed and co-wrote with Theurer, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival last year and blended science fiction and street magic. The film followed a "young street magician who is left to care for his sister turn to drug peddling to keep a roof over their heads and when he gets in too deep, his sister is kidnapped and he is forced to use his magic and brilliant mind to save her."

SLEIGHT is set to hit theaters on April 28, 2017.