The Night of the Hunter remake in the works at Universal Pictures

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Universal Pictures is looking to remake an old Hollywood classic. It has been announced the studio is in the works on a remake to THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER, a 1955 film adaptation based on the novel by Davis Grubb.

Little is known about the project but we do know that Matt Orton (OPERATION FINALE) is writing the script and it is expected to be a contemporary version of the original thriller, rather than a period piece. The original film follows a religious fanatic, con man and murderer who marries a widow, knowing that her deceased husband had hidden $10,000 from authorities following a bank robbery. The widow’s young children are reluctant to tell him where their real dad hid the money as the man plots more sinister ways to find where to find the cash. Peter Gethers will produce alongside Amy Pascal, who will produce through her Universal-based Pascal Pictures.

Robert Mitchum starred in the original film and he's absolutely chilling as Harry Powell. I first saw this film in film class and it felt a bit ahead of its time considering its themes. I found out later that the movie was considered controversial at the time, given the darkness of its plot, including Mitchum’s character preying on young children. The film isn't especially graphic, but remember this was 1955 and the envelope wasn't being pushed too much back then.

Even though Hollywood has gone dark since the coronavirus pandemic took hold of the world, studios are still working on adding projects to their development slates, especially when it comes to setting writers and directors to developing stories. There will be a time to get back to work and studios want to be ahead of the game when that time comes. 

Do YOU think they should remake THE NIGHT OF THE HUNTER?