Sam Raimi to Produce Poltergeist Remake

Following rumors earlier today that he might direct the project, The Hollywood Reporter has now confirmed that Sam Raimi has, indeed, boarded MGM's upcoming remake of Poltergeist, but is doing so in a producer-only capacity alongide Nathan Kahane and Roy Lee.

The original film was directed by Tobe Hooper and released in 1982 with Steven Spielberg producing and told the story of a malevolent spectral force that tries to take daughter of a Californian family. It spawned two sequels, Poltergeist II: The Other Side in 1986 and Poltergeist III in 1988.

Raimi, who directed The Evil Dead one year before the first Poltergeist was released, is also known today for, among many other films, his Spider-Man trilogy and, most recently, for Drag Me to Hell. He's currently in post-production on Oz the Great and Powerful.

No director is currently attached to Poltergeist, but check back for updates as they become available.

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=89703

A clause in his contract with Universal Studios prevented Spielberg from directing any other film while preparing E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Time and Newsweek tagged the summer of 1982 "The Spielberg Summer" because E.T. and Poltergeist were released a week apart in June. As such a marketable name, some began to question Spielberg's role during production.

The Directors Guild of America "opened an investigation into the question of whether or not Hooper's official credit was being denigrated by statements Spielberg has made, apparently claiming authorship."

Several members of the Poltergeist cast and crew have over the years consistently alleged that Spielberg was the 'de facto director' of the picture, while other actors have claimed Hooper directed the film. In a 2007 interview with Ain't It Cool News, Rubinstein discussed her recollections of the shooting process. She said that "Steven directed all six days" that she was on set: "Tobe set up the shots and Steven made the adjustments." She also alleged that Hooper "allowed some unacceptable chemical agents into his work," and at her interview felt that time "Tobe was only partially there."

Say What: Sam Raimi Might Direct ‘Poltergeist’ Remake?

File this news in the folder titled: “WTF?”

And not the bad version of WTF, I’m talking the so-good-it-hurts version of WTF – wherein you might spontaneously combust the news is so hot.

30 years after Spielberg directed (let’s face it, cat’s outta the bag on this one — sorry Tobe Hooper) one of the best haunted house movies ever, it looks the remake of Poltergeist is getting a one-two serving of extra talent.

First, David Lindsay-Abaire (Pulitzer Prize winning playwright of Rabbit Hole) is writing the screenplay.

Now Lindsay-Abaire has admitted, during an interview after the debut screening of his newest film Rise of the Guardians, that a famous horror maestro will direct his Poltergeist script:

Sam Raimi.

Wow!

This information hasn’t been confirmed, and although Raimi is already attached to the project as a producer, things can definitely change from here until production.

But if it’s coming from Lindsay-Abaire’s mouth, then it’s probably credible.

Can’t wait!

Source

There has been speculation about MGM’s remake of Poltergeist for a long time now. It reached a height when Sam Raimi was announced as a producer, and once we thought there was a chance he would direct. But now MGM has announced the studio’s choice for director: Gil Kenan, who directed the animated film Monster House and the YA adaptation City of Ember.

Deadline has the news. It’s kind of a surprising choice, because Kenan hasn’t been the most high-profile director. But – setting aside a general notion that a Poltergeist remake is a pointless and/or horrible idea — it makes sense. Monster House had many elements similar to Poltergeist, framed in a film for kids. And City of Ember, while saddled with some limitations, had great world-building elements. Let’s assume for a moment that this remake won’t also be skewed towards kids.

That said, we don’t know much at this point about what MGM plans for the film. Last year screenwriter David Lindsay-Abaire said,

"Well, you know there’s not too much I can say. I will say that I handed in a second draft and people are incredibly excited about it. They’re not the director, but they’re in search of a director. I will also say that there are very few people who are as obsessed with the original movie as I am, so I would try to write a script that I would want to see as a fan. I will say that."

Presumably Lindsay-Abaire’s script is still in play, but Deadline doesn’t mention either way.