UPDATE: A source with direct knowledge is telling me this story isn’t true — he’s not attached to direct “The Black Hole” for Disney.
EARLIER: According to DanielRPK, Edgar Wright is in talks with Disney to direct a remake of the studio’s 1979 sci-fi cult film “The Black Hole.” Wright, who has long expressed admiration for the original film, is reportedly co-writing the script alongside Joe Cornish (“Attack the Block”).
This could mark yet another remake for Wright, who is also currently waiting his take on “The Running Man” to release this fall. That project, which will reportedly be closer in tone to Stephen King’s original novel than the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger action flick, stars Glen Powell.
Disney’s original ‘Black Hole,’ released in the wake of Star Wars, was the studio’s first PG-rated film and something of an oddity — a dark, visually-driven, and philosophically curious movie that puzzled critics at the time but has since developed a cultish following. Its mix of existentialism, kitschy robot designs, and unique visuals made it one of the more peculiar big-budget films of the era.
Wright has gone on record over the years as a fan of “The Black Hole,” name-checking it in interviews and citing ilJohn Barry’s score.
This isn’t the first time Disney has attempted to revisit “The Black Hole.” A remake was in development as far back as 2009 with Joseph Kosinski attached. That version was ultimately shelved.
Wright’s last film, 2021’s “Last Night in Soho,” received the most divisive reviews of his career. Still, the filmmaker maintains a fiercely loyal fanbase thanks to cult favorites like “Shaun of the Dead,” “Baby Driver,” and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.”
No casting or production dates have been announced yet, and Wright is still not officially attached, but for fans of late-’70s sci-fi oddities, there’s excitement in the air.