PA/ParamountIn a world of franchises, sequels and live-action remakes, it shouldn’t really come as a surprise that a beloved Christmas movie is getting a new treatment.
Though the 1988 version of Scrooged is a stone cold classic, it seems nothing is sacred, as Paramount are said to be developing a new, updated version with Kevin Hart taking the reins.
The original film starred the inimitable Bill Murray as Frank Cross, the mean-spirited television executive who slowly learns the true meaning of Christmas thanks to the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.
A retelling of Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella A Christmas Carol, Scrooged was a box office success at the time, but has since become a popular cult classic over the years, thanks to Murray’s comedic performance and memorable roles from Bobcat Goldthwait, Karen Allen, and the New York Dolls’ David Johansen.
The update is said to be lining up Hart for the lead role, with his production company – Hartbeat Productions – producing, naturally. While the search for a new script is currently underway, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Paramount PicturesIt seems Paramount Pictures are in the midst of an 80s revival at the moment, as well as the new Scrooged, it looks like they’re also providing us with another Tom Cruise-led Top Gun, an Eddie Murphy-led sequel to Coming to America, and possibly even another Beverly Hills Cop instalment.
The studio also just released a remake of the 1989 film Pet Semetary, while another blast from the 80s past – Terminator – is dropping a new film this November, as Collider reports.
Paramount PicturesOf course, it’s not the first time Dickens’ Christmas tale has been retold, with a mixed bag of adaptations coming out over the years, from The Muppet Christmas Carol in 1992, to the Jim Carrey/CGI mashup of 2009’s A Christmas Carol.
However, Scrooged is arguably the definitive version, earning its right as a cult Christmas classic in the 31 years since its release, so it’ll be interesting to see how Hart and his team handle it.
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Charlie Cocksedge is a journalist and sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated from the University of Manchester with an MA in Creative Writing, where he learnt how to write in the third person, before getting his NCTJ. His work has also appeared in such places as The Guardian, PN Review and the bin.