Screen Gems is breathing new life into the horror genre with a reboot of the cult classic Urban Legends, which originally captivated audiences in 1998. Collaborating on the development of this feature script with writer Shanrah Wakefield. Joining the filmed side and the development side is noted adaptation producer Gary Dauberman, producer of Until Dawn fame. This revival is a reaction to the success, all too recent, of slasher films. Films such as the Scream franchise and the legacy sequel I Know What You Did Last Summer have rekindled passion for the genre.
The original Urban Legends was a box office hit, taking in $72.5 million around the world. It achieved this incredible achievement with a very tight budget of only $14 million. The movie was a box office hit but clobbered by critics. They awarded it an embarrassing 30% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Jamie Blanks directed the film, and it was written by Sylvio Horta. It takes place in a prestigious New England university, where a fiendish killer prowls the campus, killing students one by one, all with the gruesome touch of current urban legends.
The movie Natalie’s story is a simple one, complex and ripe with exploration. She struggles to identify a murderer who is picking off her friends. This killer’s methods are chillingly inspired by well-known urban legends, starting with the shocking murder of Natalie’s friend Michelle. The star-studded cast of the film included Jared Leto, Alicia Witt, Rebecca Gayheart, Tara Reid and Michael Rosenbaum, just to name a few. It featured standout performances from horror legend Robert Englund, actors Loretta Devine and Brad Dourif.
In addition to the original, two sequels followed: Urban Legends: Final Cut in 2000 and Urban Legends: Bloody Mary in 2005. Though a reboot was announced as far back as 2020, production was delayed when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the entertainment industry. Currently, producers are attempting to spark a new flame of interest in the franchise. Neal Moritz, who produced the original flick, is in discussions now to jumpstart the new enterprise.
Sources familiar with the development revealed that the reboot aims to explore “what an urban legend looks like in a post-digital world.” This fresh perspective could offer audiences an innovative take on the genre while maintaining the essence that made the original film a memorable experience for horror fans.
Producers are still working out the details for this anticipated revival. Expectations are through the roof as they face the daunting task of reinventing a property infused with so much nostalgia. The horror genre is back baby —and we love to see it. Audiences are hungry for new interpretations of old stories that speak to the issues of this moment.