Apr 28 2009Russell Brand Starring in a 'Drop Dead Fred' Remake
Guess what. There's this now:
Universal is resurrecting "Drop Dead Fred," this time as a starring vehicle for Russell Brand.Dennis McNicholas, one of the writers of Universal's upcoming "Land of the Lost," will pen the remake.
The 1991 original starred Phoebe Cates as a wallflower who loses her job and husband during the course of a lunch hour. Forced to live back home, she's reunited with her childhood imaginary friend (Brit actor Rik Mayall), who promises to help but causes more havoc.
Produced by PolyGram and Working Title, the first "Fred" was critically drubbed and commercially unsuccessful. But it did achieve a certain cult status and is considered a film that fell short of its full potential.
The take for the new "Fred" is to make a film in the tone of "Beetlejuice," building a universe around the concept of imaginary friends. Brand would play the trouble-making pal.
Yeah, everyone is always talking about how Drop Dead Fred fell short of its full potential. What happened, Drop Dead Fred? DDF was the at the top of his class until he got into drugs between his junior and senior years, metaphorically. Really, such a shame the movie was critically and commercially rejected, because otherwise it could have been really good.
Honestly, I'm so dumbfounded that someone even thought to remake Drop Dead Fred that I can barely piece together any sort of sensible reaction. Except: wouldn't combining an imaginary friend movie with the tone and universe of Beetlejuice just end up creating a remake of the Fred Savage/Howie Mandel monster-under-the-bed thesis Little Monsters? I think Universal bought the wrong rights.
Reader Comments
1. spencer - April 28, 2009 11:03 AM
what???
2. Matthew Lenz - April 28, 2009 11:28 AM
This is one of GF's favorite movies and she's a Brand fan as well so I'm sure she'll be excited.
3. mtk - April 28, 2009 11:31 AM
I'm actually all for bad movies being remade. It's much nicer than when good movies are.
4. mike rackhabit - April 28, 2009 11:34 AM
i oncve saw a prono called rock hard ed. it was what the original should have been.
5. sal - April 28, 2009 11:46 AM
Russell Brand is a twat, and this is yet another terrible idea.
6. Mo - April 28, 2009 12:27 PM
I'd rather he just dropped dead.
7. Eric - April 28, 2009 12:33 PM
Hollywood has so completely run out of ideas that they are now resorting to re-making bad movies from 20 years ago.
8. Rachel - April 28, 2009 12:40 PM
This is terrible. Drop Dead Fred the original is my all time favorite movie. Russell Brand better not fuck it up.
9. Hal - April 28, 2009 1:33 PM
If somehow this bringing British comedians over for awful remakes results in the MIGHTY BOOSH feature getting distribution of any kind, then go right ahead. We all know deep down Brand will just be doing a riff on Old Gregg.
10. Langdon - April 28, 2009 1:58 PM
As a fan of the movie as a kid, I think this is a good idea. He's perfect for the role.
11. Snoodle - April 28, 2009 2:40 PM
He's perfectly cast in this, but the question remains, why remake it :s?
12. Tom - April 28, 2009 3:38 PM
okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, O-god-damned-KAY! Really now! There are only, like a handful of movies that would need being a remake. By now, we have already completed this handful. Now, I get the feeling that they are merely picking names out of a hat. Don't get me wrong, I actually really like Drop Dead Fred. Does that merit a remake? No.
I've got a great idea for these movie bozos who have absolutely no more imagination! Take that hat with all those old movie names and empty it out. Next, fill that hat with a bunch of crazy, made up, titles. Pick a name by random and make a movie off of that! By now I'll even take an original story that was pulled out of someones ass then to hear about another remake of a movie that SHOULD NOT BE REMADE!
13. Mark Farson - April 28, 2009 4:25 PM
i'm holding out for a King Ralph remake! We could have Seth Rogen play as John Goodman's character! Someone get me a ticket Hollywood, pronto!
14. Galactastica - April 28, 2009 4:29 PM
yeah, i love drop dead fred too, i've never heard anybody call it a bad movie before this! this remake sound pretty awful, but i'm not going to lie and say i wouldn't see it. i would have to know what it's like even if i expect it to be bad!
15. Racer X - April 28, 2009 7:07 PM
I don't know why I like this movie so much but I do, it's pretty average. But still.
16. Neru - April 29, 2009 1:09 AM
NOOOOOOOOO! Ruining a classic! That's devastating :(
17. spoodie - April 29, 2009 6:34 AM
We're now through the bottom of the barrel and there's a groove forming in the concrete beneath. Only a millimetre of concrete stands between us and a Condorman remake.
18. Spud - April 29, 2009 9:38 AM
I am so pissed off about this. I've always adore this movie, in particularly Rik Mayall. He's always been my favourite actor, and I honestly am really disappointed and frustrated that they would remake Drop Dead Fred. Sure it didn't get the credit it deserved when it was released, but over the years people have realised that, and it got recognition, even if just cult status. But whatever, I certainly won't be bothering to even see the preview on free TV of said remake, because it'll just screw with my mind and make me angry. I agree that Drop Dead Fred is a classic, because all my friends enjoy watching it. It's entertaining, and doing a remake would ruin the 'homey' status it's built up over the years. JUST NO. Fancy replacing Rik with Russell. Are they deranged?
19. heidi - September 2, 2009 11:03 AM
drop dead fred was my favorite movie growing up and i still love it. i can't believe they are digging this deep for movie ideas. just leave the classics alone! especially if russell brand has anything to do with it. jesus.
20. shauna - October 3, 2009 2:56 PM
Drop Dead Fred was my all time favorite movie growing up and it still makes me to this day! That movie would cheer me up when I was in the foulest of moods... what I am trying to say is I'm not quite sure how I feel about this idea about remaking it. However, I do think Russell Brand might be able to pull off a half way decent Fred, he's tall and lanky, and he's got that mischievous gleam to eyes and smile. But I agree with most of the other comments as well, why not just leave the film be? Yeah sure it may have been a flop for the box office and what not but for us "Fred fans" why ruin our childhood image of Fred? Drop Dead Fred will always be, Rik hanging upside down with flaming red hair, wearing that bright green suit of his!
21. Wendy - November 13, 2009 5:13 AM
I LOVE the movie "Drop Dead Fred" My kids and now grandchild still watch it. If it is made with a Tim Burton twist I thiink it might be brilliant. But there is a real sweetness in the oiginal. It is precious and Rik Mayhal and Pheaobe Kates were enchanting.