The Production Ladder: Remakes of “Vacation”, “Predator”, “Showgirls” and Oren Peli Gets “Area 51”

As the recession continues onward, Hollywood marches forward with more branded entertainment properties.

The Hollywood Reporter is noting in its Heat Vision blog that Warner Brothers is developing a sequel to 1983’s “National Lampoon’s Vacation” with David Dobkin of “Wedding Crashers” attached as a producer and possibly director. The sequel will feature the now adult son of Clark Griswold, Rusty going on his own road trip vacation. Anthony Michael Hall played Rusty and Chevy Chase was the beleaguered dad in the original. Beverly D’Angelo played the mom. No casting announcements so far, but expect most of the original stars to return. “Vacation” also featured Randy Quaid, Brian Doyle Murray, Jane Krakowski, Eugene Levy and Christy Brinkley. Read more at http://www.heatvisionblog.com/2009/10/vacation-sequel-from-new-line.html

Robert Rodriquez will produce and Nimrod Antal (Kontrol, Vacancy) will direct a remake of the Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi flick “Predator”. The less muscular but infinitely more talented Adrian Brody will be doing the acting honors this time around. The script written by Rodriquez, Alex Litvak and Michael Finch still follows the original’s formula – a group of elite soldiers hunted down by a race of alien predators. Shooting begins next month in Hawaii then moves to Rodriquez’s Troublemaker Studios in Austin, Texas. The film is set for a July 10, 2010 release date.  More at http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091007/film_nm/us_predators_1

Proof that the Apocalypse is already happening comes with the announcement that a “Showgirls” sequel is already in the works. The Joe Eszterhas scripted, Paul Verhoven directed abomination is a frequent starrer on almost every list of the 100 worst movies of all times. Metacritic.com has it at 79 of its worst reviewed list. The German publication site Extratipp.com notes that the writer/director Marc Vorlander has developed a parallel story Showgirls: Story of Hope that follows one of the movie’s minor characters Hope, played and replayed by German model and actress Rena Riffel. Vorlander’s script has reputedly attracted two Hollywood producers and a $25 million budget for the Frankfurt, Germany shoot.  More at http://www.joblo.com/index.php?id=28908

Oren Peli who is scaring up good grosses for his “Paranormal Activity” has signed to do another found footage film on a miniscule budget. Peli has a $5 million tab this time around, tiny by Hollywood standards. Still, that represents a more than 454 percent raise from “Paranormal Activity” $11,000 budget. “Area 51” is about three teens whose curiosity leads them to the notorious "Area 51" part of Nellis Air Force Base in the Nevada desert. It starts shooting next week.  See more at http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118009596.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2562