Well, well, well. It seems Sylvester Stallone has a little gas left in the engine after all.
His latest thriller The Expendables nabbed $35 million in its opening box office – which all but ensures Sly at least another big-time Hollywood release.
And while The Expendables story is surely set up for a sequel anyhow, its domestic take was not expected to be as high as it was (everyone knew with names like Lundgren and Li, the film was guaranteed to hit internationally but not necessarily in America).
As it turns out, if the 80s weren’t already back in vogue, they are now. At least as far as action movies go. With the success of The Expendables, expect to see producers clammering for potential returns from the likes of Steven Seagal, Jean-Claude Van Damme and maybe even a second life in Hollywood for Little Dolphie Lundgren.
But the truth is, even before The Expendables hit theatres, the fervor of the 80s action film had sparked in Tinseltown, slow to build into a raging bonfire. Producers and studio heads - eager to land an established brand - have been sinking their investments into old franchises and movies that will soon be hitting multiplexes in the next couple years. The only question is – with the turning of the decade, so too will the fad of the 80s transform into the 90s?
Only time will tell, but until then, here are a list of seven highly anticipated forthcoming action remakes:
TRON: Legacy – In December, Jeff Bridges returns as the video game developer trapped in a digital world in this highly-anticipated reboot of the 1982 classic, TRON. A huge hit at this years Comic-Con in San Diego.
Conan – Arnold Schwarzenegger shot to fame with this ‘80s action hit, but next year’s adaptation will feature former Baywatch-star Jason Momoa as the rugged barbarian.
Red Dawn – Originally starring the likes of C. Thomas Howell, the 1984 cold war-era thriller about a group of students resisting a Russian invasion is getting a Hollywood makeover.
Highlander – Led by director Justin Lin (Fast & Furious), this reimagining of the 1986 hit about an immortal Scottish swordsman has many action-fans buzzing with anticipation. Presumably, Christopher Lambert is fairly pumped too.
Dune – Filmmaker Pierre Morel (Taken) is taking a swipe at the 80’s sci-fi classic and Paramount Pictures is eyeing a release for next summer. No word on whether Sting will appear shirtless in this version.
Escape from New York – The 1981 John Carpenter hit about Manhattan being turned into a maximum security prison is being remade by Breck Eisner (The Crazies). My first guess: He’ll probably advance the original movie’s futuristic setting of 1997.
Alien – Although the original Alien was released in 1979, it really found its success in the 80s with home video and a big 1986 sequel. Now it seems filmmaker Ridley Scott is eager to bring the franchise back to life - although we’re unsure at what stage this project is at. Things have been quiet. Perhaps in the backrooms of Hollywood, no one can hear Ridley scream.
