THR reports that Gordon-Levitt is developing the remake for the studio and has already hired scribe Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa to pen the screenplay. Aguirre-Sacasa recently wrote the script for the Broadway production of ‘Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.’ Marc Platt will produce.
No director has been hired as of yet, but with a script on the way it’s only a matter of time before Seymour meets his maker. Gordon-Levitt will, of course, play the third iteration of nerdy florist Seymour, a man who must feed people to his talking, overgrown Venus fly trap in order to hold onto his success.
Jonathan Haze originated the role in Roger Corman’s 1960 classic, with Rick Moranis aptly filling those shoes in the more familiar 1986 version from director Frank Oz. That version memorably co-starred Steve Martin as a crazy dentist.
The film also calls for the role of a female love interest for Seymour named Audrey. We’re now taking bets on how long it’ll be before Zooey Deschanel is announced to co-star.
Ever since Levitt re-established himself as a credible adult character actor with Brick back in 2005, he’s gone on to become one of the most respected and in-demand young male leads in the biz. This year alone, Levitt will be appearing in the latest projects from heavy-hitters like Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight Rises) and Steve Spielberg (Lincoln) – while also pulling leading man duties in David Koepp’s Premium Rush and Brick director Rian Johnson’s Looper.
Levitt looks to continue expanding his repertoire to include feature-length writing and directing, beginning with the upcoming Don Jon’s Addiction (which he will also headline). However, his decision to also push ahead with a retooling of a pretty beloved cult movie musical from the ’80s won’t win him any favors, as far as the initial reaction from the cinephile crowd goes.
Depending on what approach Levitt and Sacasa take to refashioning Oz’ Little Shop of Horrors movie (restoring the original, more gruesome ending from the stage musical seems a likely route), that may or may not change in the future.
We will keep you posted on the status of the Little Shop of Horrors remake as the story develops.
Glee" co-producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa is in early negotiations to write a new version of "Little Shop of Horrors" for Warner Bros. and producer Marc Platt.
Roger Corman directed the original 1960 pic, while WB released Frank Oz's 1986 remake, which starred Rick Moranis, Steve Martin and Ellen Greene.
A versatile scribe who is active in film, TV, theater and comicbooks, Aguirre-Sacasa was recently hired by Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage's Fake Empire banner to adapt Megan Shepherd's upcoming young adult novel "Madman's Daughter." He rewrote the book for the Broadway show "Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark" and has been widely credited with making the show a success. He also penned the script for MGM/Screen Gems' remake of "Carrie," based on the Stephen King novel.
In addition to serving as a co-producer on Fox's hit series "Glee," Aguirre-Sacasa co-wrote the first season of Marvel's new "Fantastic Four" comicbook with David Marquez.
Platt recently produced "Drive" and is currently in pre-production on Akiva Goldsman's "Winter's Tale" and the Mark Wahlberg-Denzel Washington vehicle "2 Guns."
Heat Vision says the actor/producer/musician/director, next seen in THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, is circling a remake of Roger Corman’s cult classic LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. Gordon-Levitt will develope and star in the picture, which will be penned by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK, Kimberly Peirce’s upcoming CARRIE remake). Marc Platt will produce. No director is attached yet.
Corman created LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS back in the 1960′s but its journey really began when it became an off-Broadway musical. That was followed by the 1986 film starring Rick Moranis and Steve Martin. Since Aguiree-Scasa is writing, it’s assumed the new remake will also be a musical.
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS revolves around wimpy florist Seymour and his living, talking plant that eats humans and generally makes Seymour’s life miserable.
