It looks like Issa Rae’s “Set It Off” reboot has found its director, according to The InSneider.
Steven Caple Jr., who was once rumored to direct “I Am Legend 2” for Warner Bros., is now attached to helm the “Set It Off” reboot for the studio’s New Line label. Caple is best known for directing “Creed II” after Ryan Coogler opted not to return for the sequel, and 2023’s “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.”
Playwright and TV writer C.A. Johnson (“Filthy Rich”) has been brought on to polish the screenplay. Rae is set to both star in and produce the new version of the 1996 crime thriller, which follows four women in Los Angeles who, out of financial desperation, team up to rob a bank—only for their bond to unravel as paranoia sets in.
Warner Bros/New Line clearly see an audience for this, and I’m sure the budget won’t be that high for the reboot, but is there anyone actually clamoring for a reimagining of “Set it Off”?
The original film, directed by the underrated F. Gary Gray (“Friday,” “The Negotiator,” “Straight Outta Compton”), grossed $41M globally on a $9M budget. The key to its success was the chemistry between Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise, all in breakout roles
The new iteration has been percolating for a while. Syreeta Singleton (“One of Them Days”) and Nina Gloster (“Star”) were first hired to write the script back in 2019, with Singleton revealing earlier this year that their version leaned into “humor.” Johnson was recently tapped to shepherd the project across the finish line, suggesting that New Line is serious about getting it moving.
New Line is reportedly targeting a budget in the $25–$30M range, positioning the remake as a mid-budget studio play. Given the success of the original and Rae’s rising profile, it’s not a bad bet.