David Naughton as a monster in a dream in 1981's 'An American Werewolf in London'

In a world of remakes and the new wave of vampire and werewolf popularity it was only a matter of time before John Landis’ 1981 classic horror-comedy An American Werewolf in London would find its way on to the remake list.

Dimension Films have now picked up the rights from Landis to develop the new film, though Landis will still be on board as an executive producer.

Landis wrote and directed the original film about two American backpackers who, whilst hiking in the Yorkshire moors, are attacked by a werewolf.  One of them (played by Griffin Dunne) is killed and becomes doomed to remain one of the walking undead as long as the blood-line of the werewolf that killed him remains alive.  The other (played by David Naughton) becomes a werewolf and the last of the blood-line who goes on to terrorize London.

The remake doesn’t have a writer or director as yet.

Word is Dimension plans to update the remake for a modern audience whilst retaining the comedic aspect of the original film.

This announcement brings back some memories.  I remember watching the original in the cinema when I was 13 years old, scared witless during the opening moors scene.  At the end of the scene a mother and her two young daughters stood up in the row ahead of me and announced to the whole theater that the “film was disgusting!” and walked out.  Now, around almost 3 decades later you can watch that scene at will on YouTube.  You have to love it.

Source:  THR / Bloody-Disgusting