Gil Kenan, who helmed the kid-friendly animated spookshow MONSTER HOUSE and movie that time forgot CITY OF EMBER, has been hand plucked by MGM to direct the long-gestating remake of the 1982 classic haunted house picture POLTERGEIST.

That film, co-written and produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE's Tobe Hooper is a cinematic treasure, which has forever made it target for redo. It saw picturesque family the Freelings (led by Craig T. Nelson and JoBeth Williams) truly understand the horrors of suburban development through menacing spectral activity atop a covered Indian burial ground.

A host of writers including SINISTER's Scott Derrickson, David Lindsay-Abaire and THE POSESSION's Juliet Snowden & Stiles White have previously worked on drafts of a new version (there was once even speculation Sam Raimi could take it on), but Deadline revealed little else aside from Kenan's involvement, so whether a pre-existing script or entirely new one will be used is unknown. Also unknown, the film's goals. Kenan is arguably a director of younger-aged fare. While most parents wouldn't be uncomfortable letting their newly teenaged spawn watch the often fun, but frightening original, it does remain particularly layered, and frankly, great. Will Kenan make a jump and shoot for such, or just aim lower?

---

News - Latest