Warner Bros. Pictures is remaking the groundbreaking 1956 sci-fi classic “Forbidden Planet.” The script will be written by Hugo and Eisner Award-winning comic book and screenwriter Brian K. Vaughan (“LOST,” “Y: The Last Man“).
It will be produced by former Fox and Paramount films divisions head Emma Watts.
“Forbidden Planet” is loosely based on William Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest.” It’s set in the 23rd century, and follows the starship crew aboard the C-57D. They are sent to the distant planet Altair IV to solve the mystery of what happened to another ship sent there 20 years prior. A mission that is undertaken against the warnings of the original ship’s scientist, Dr. Edward Morbius (Walter Pidgeon).
Any attempts at rescuing the former crew are dashed when a creature begins killing members of the C-57D’s crew. Commander John J. Adams (Leslie Nielsen) must unravel the mystery of an ancient relic created by a long-extinct race if he has any chance of saving his team.
Given its progressive ideas and serious take on the normally hokey sci-fi films of the time, “Forbidden Planet” became a touchstone in sci-fi writing and cinema, inspiring countless other properties in and outside of the genre.
This would be the film’s first-ever big-screen remake. There had been various rumors James Cameron (“Avatar”) was considering making his own adaptation. One of his main stumbling blocks was the complicated copyrights on the film. Rights that have now been untangled by Watts, and Warner Bros. Pictures.
We’ll keep you posted on updates about the “Forbidden Planet” remake as they become available. The original 1956 version of the film is currently streaming on Tubi and Hoopla, you can check out the trailer for it below:
