Roxanne Benjamin will direct Night of the Comet remake

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

We just got word an hour or so ago that Katie Holmes will be starring in the upcoming sequel to the PG-13 horror-thriller THE BOY and now we have word that a beloved cult film from the 80's is getting the remake treatment. Yes, Deadline reports that the 1984 doomsday horror-comedy-sci-fi NIGHT OF THE COMET is next on the "reimagining" chopping block.

Not only that, but the flick has also scored its director in the form of SOUTHBOUND and XX director Roxanne Benjamin. She will be taking the helm of the new Orion Pictures flick, which is said will skew horror-sci-fi rather than comedy. In a fun bit of trivia regarding the original movie, Heather Langenkamp auditioned for the role of Sam and was the number one choice but the part ultimately went to Kelli Maroney.

The original film followed

After a rare comet sighting, teen sisters Regina (Catherine Mary Stewart) and Samantha (Kelli Maroney) find that they're among the only survivors of a zombie attack. The girls partner with another survivor, Hector (Robert Beltran), but as they try to avoid the zombies, they're sought by scientists who want to experiment on their bodies in the hope of finding an antidote. Dodging both the doctors and the undead, they keep moving in the hope that they can continue to stay alive.

The original 1984 science fiction horror-comedy film was written and directed by Thom Eberhardt. It stars Robert Beltran, Catherine Mary Stewart, Kelli Maroney, Sharon Farrell, Mary Woronov, and Geoffrey Lewis. NIGHT OF THE COMET was produced back in the day for a mere $700,000 but ended up grossing more than $14 million in the US. It has a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 83% and has since become a cult film, influencing the creation of Buffy Summers.