Rob Zombie set to direct "Halloween 9"

*cqb101* · 06-04-2006, 07:29 PM

Quote:

NEW YORK, NEW YORK (June 4, 2006) – Dimension Films is proud to announce that they will make a new “Halloween” movie with Rob Zombie (The Devil's Rejects, House of 1000 Corpses) writing, directing and serving as a producer. Malek Akkad of Trancas International Films (Halloween H20: 20 Years Later) will produce the feature along with Andy Gould of Vision Entertainment Group (The Devil's Rejects, House of 1000 Corpses). Zombie will also serve as music supervisor on the film. Miramax Films will co-finance the development with Dimension Films. The announcement was made today by The Weinstein Company co-chairman, Bob Weinstein.

Zombie's vision of this film is an entirely new take on the legend and will satisfy fans of the classic "Halloween" legacy while beginning a new chapter in the Michael Myers saga. This new movie will not only appeal to horror fans, but to a wider movie-going audience as well. It will not be a copycat of any prior films in the "Halloween" franchise. The film is set for an October 2007 theatrical release.

Bob Weinstein stated, "Rob Zombie is a gifted musician and performer as well as a talented filmmaker. His vision for this new 'Halloween' is spectacular and I am thrilled to be collaborating with him and to work closely with Malek Akkad to continue the legacy built by his father, the late Moustapha Akkad."

Zombie said, "I have been a huge, huge fan of John Carpenter's original film since its release. So when Bob Weinstein approached me about this, I jumped at the chance to join forces with Dimension Films on this amazing project."

The "Halloween" story began with the 1978 release of "John Carpenter's Halloween," executive produced by the late Moustapha Akkad, founder of Trancas International Films and became the highest grossing independent film of the time. Moustapha Akkad's son, Malek, is now taking some of the reigns on this new "Halloween" project to continue the outstanding work begun by his father. Malek Akkad stated, "Trancas is very excited to be working with Rob Zombie and producing another 'Halloween' with Bob Weinstein and Dimension, the home of the franchise for the last three installments. It will be a fitting and worthy tribute to my late father."

"I am thrilled to be working again with Rob and with Dimension Films on such an iconic project that will reinvigorate 'Halloween' and Michael Myers in a truly terrifying new way," stated Andy Gould, Rob Zombie's long time manager and producer of Zombie's two previous films.

Richard Saperstein, president of production, Matthew Stein, senior vice president of production and Alex Franklin, director of development and production will oversee the project on behalf of Dimension. Bret McCartney of Trancas International will oversee production on behalf of Trancas.

Andrew Kramer, executive vice president of business and legal affairs, and Lumumba Mosquera, senior vice president of business and legal affairs, negotiated on behalf of Dimension Films. Attorneys David Fox and Jeffrey Light of Myman Abell Fineman Greenspan & Light negotiated on behalf of Rob Zombie. Attorney Wayne Kazan of Weissmann Wolff Bergman Coleman & Silverman negotiated on behalf of Akkad. Rob Zombie is represented by Paradigm.

ABOUT ROB ZOMBIE

An auteur filmmaker and music artist with shrewd insight and creative vision, Rob Zombie challenges audiences as he stretches the boundaries of film, music and publishing.

Zombie is the longest active artist on Geffen Records and has sold in excess of fifteen million records. He is currently on a sold-out nationwide tour for his latest gold-selling album, "Educated Horses." which debuted at number five on the Billboard Top 200.

In 2000, Zombie jumped from music to film with his directorial debut and cult smash hit, "House of 1000 Corpses." Due to the film success Zombie returned in 2004 to helm its follow up the critically acclaimed, "The Devil's Rejects." Zombie was hailed by critics and fans alike as a visionary filmmaker due to the film's uncompromising and wildly inventive exploitive throw-back style.

Prior to "House of 1000 Corpses," Zombie directed dozens of high profile music videos. In 1995 Zombie won an MTV Music Video Award for "More Human Than Human," becoming the first self-directed artist to win such an award.

After the success of "The Devil's Rejects," Zombie entered the world of animation with "The Haunted World of El Superbeasto" a feature length film in production at IDT.

ABOUT MALEK AKKAD

Malek Akkad is a twenty-year veteran of the entertainment industry. Under his guidance, Trancas International Films, has evolved into a diverse entertainment company, involved in production, distribution, management, music publishing and merchandising.

Akkad has produced the last three installments of the successful “Halloween” franchise, distributed by Dimension films, and is currently producing “Halloween 9.” Some other producing credits include “Walking After Midnight,” “The Psychic Murders,” the recently completed, “Made In Brooklyn,” and the documentary, “Halloween: 25 Years of Terror.”

As a director, Akkad has numerous commercials and music videos to his credit, including clients such as Coke Cola, and artists like Lo-Ball, Simon Shaheen & Kazem. He also directed the feature film, “The Psychic Murders,” starring James Russo, Henry Rollins, and Terry Farrell. He is currently developing “The Princess of Alhambra,” a sweeping historical epic set in medieval Spain, based on a script by Oscar winning screenwriter, Robert Bolt.

Akkad’s company, Trancas, also manages a vibrant film library, including titles such as “Halloween,” “Halloween 4,” “Halloween 5,” “Hell Night,” and “Lion of the Desert.” It also runs a merchandising department, and the music publishing company, Jack-O-Lantern Music. Trancas has recently opened television and management divisions, with several projects in development, and a roster of recognizable talent.

Tring Entertainments is Akkad’s overseas affiliate, handling Trancas’ library internationally, with offices in Twickenham Film Studios, home to such legendary productions such as “Reds,” “Ghandi,” “Blade Runner,” “Donnie Brasco,” “Interview with a Vampire” and Superman II & III, to name a few.

Akkad’s newly formed Paranormal Pictures, in association with Jon Sheinberg’s The Machine, has recently completed production of the mob comedy, “Made In Brooklyn.” The company has also produced the upcoming release from Anchor Bay Entertainment, “Halloween: 25 Years of Terror.”

Source: Dimension Films.

Great news, IMO. I've loved Rob Zombie's two previous films, and believe he's more than qualified to breathe some new life into this series.

*Spitfire* · 06-04-2006, 09:02 PM

Zombie was a better artist the director. But now his music sucks and his movies in my opinion aren't much better. Devil's Rejects was so boring to me and House wasn't much better.

*Brodie* · 06-04-2006, 10:15 PM

Actually he isn't directing Halloween 9.
From Bloody Disgusting:

'Rob Zombie writes on his official blog:

"Okay here's the real deal for those of you who are confused. As I said yesterday - I am not making Halloween 9. That series is done, complete, over.

But what I am doing is starting totally from from scratch. This the new HALLOWEEN. Call it a remake, an update, a reimagining or whatever, but one thing that for sure is this is a whole new start... a new begining with no connection to the other series. That is exactly why the project appeals to me. I can take it and run with it.

I talked to John Carpenter about this the other day and he said, "Go for it, Rob. Make it your own". And that's exactly what I intend to do.

Any questions? Go ahead and ask'em." '

AND:

Now here's some more news from Variety:

"This is a bit of a prequel and a remake, combine," Zombie tells Variety.

"Over 25 years and a lot of movies, a very scary character became something of a Halloween cliche, with Michael Myers dolls that play the Halloween music when you press their stomachs. By the end of the sequel cycle, there was little connection to the original. I take that film very seriously, and I want to make it terrifying again."

Before signing on, Zombie said he sought out Carpenter, who has had several of his films remade.

"The original 'Halloween' is hallowed ground to me, and I talked to him about it and he was very supportive of what I wanted to do," Zombie said.

No H9. Just a remake...Re-image.

*DrSpengler* · 06-05-2006, 12:14 AM

I actually think this is a good idea.

For one thing, Carpenter's original vision for the Halloween franchise was to be a completely original Halloween-based movie every couple years (hence Halloween 3: Season of the Witch), however, people wanted Myers so bad he became the star of the series.

The Halloween series already got a reboot, of sorts, with H20. That installment ignored 4-6 and acted as a direct sequel to Halloween 2. You can see how well that worked out, with H20 and Resurrected being the worst films in the whole franchise.

Carpenter's original vision for the franchise wasn't a never-ending slasher sequel-fest. It was to be a new, clever "anthology" series of movies.

A reimagining of Michael Myers is certainly more interesting than Halloween 9, where Michael fights another gangsta rapper.

I'll be looking forward to this one.

*Brodie* · 06-05-2006, 06:11 PM

I really dug the Producer's cut of H666. I hope it's something in that vein.

*DrSpengler* · 06-05-2006, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brodie

I really dug the Producer's cut of H666. I hope it's something in that vein.

I liked the Producer's cut a lot more, as well. Mostly because it made SENSE. The theatrical cut was so hacked up the entire thing was just confusing and pointless.

The Producer's cut actually felt like a good finale to Jamie's story arc, as he death wasn't total fodder like in the theatrical version.

*Spitfire* · 06-07-2006, 12:04 AM

Oh it's a remake...well that's better news. I don't know if you can remake a classic like that but why not? I'd rather have Hollywood remaking good old movies instead of bad ones or making more horrible ones.

06-04-2006, 09:02 PM	#2
Spitfire Writer • Director Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 12,035	Zombie was a better artist the director. But now his music sucks and his movies in my opinion aren't much better. Devil's Rejects was so boring to me and House wasn't much better. __________________ Check out my online portfolio http://www.christopherpelletier.com/

06-04-2006, 10:15 PM	#3
Brodie Certified Teacher Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Bizarro Metropolis Posts: 6,495	Actually he isn't directing Halloween 9. From Bloody Disgusting: 'Rob Zombie writes on his official blog: "Okay here's the real deal for those of you who are confused. As I said yesterday - I am not making Halloween 9. That series is done, complete, over. But what I am doing is starting totally from from scratch. This the new HALLOWEEN. Call it a remake, an update, a reimagining or whatever, but one thing that for sure is this is a whole new start... a new begining with no connection to the other series. That is exactly why the project appeals to me. I can take it and run with it. I talked to John Carpenter about this the other day and he said, "Go for it, Rob. Make it your own". And that's exactly what I intend to do. Any questions? Go ahead and ask'em." ' AND: Now here's some more news from Variety: "This is a bit of a prequel and a remake, combine," Zombie tells Variety. "Over 25 years and a lot of movies, a very scary character became something of a Halloween cliche, with Michael Myers dolls that play the Halloween music when you press their stomachs. By the end of the sequel cycle, there was little connection to the original. I take that film very seriously, and I want to make it terrifying again." Before signing on, Zombie said he sought out Carpenter, who has had several of his films remade. "The original 'Halloween' is hallowed ground to me, and I talked to him about it and he was very supportive of what I wanted to do," Zombie said. No H9. Just a remake...Re-image. __________________ Stupendous Monster

06-05-2006, 06:11 PM	#5
Brodie Certified Teacher Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Bizarro Metropolis Posts: 6,495	I really dug the Producer's cut of H666. I hope it's something in that vein. __________________ Stupendous Monster

06-07-2006, 12:04 AM	#7
Spitfire Writer • Director Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 12,035	Oh it's a remake...well that's better news. I don't know if you can remake a classic like that but why not? I'd rather have Hollywood remaking good old movies instead of bad ones or making more horrible ones. __________________ Check out my online portfolio http://www.christopherpelletier.com/

06-05-2006, 12:14 AM	#4
DrSpengler Foot Elite Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 4,842	I actually think this is a good idea. For one thing, Carpenter's original vision for the Halloween franchise was to be a completely original Halloween-based movie every couple years (hence Halloween 3: Season of the Witch), however, people wanted Myers so bad he became the star of the series. The Halloween series already got a reboot, of sorts, with H20. That installment ignored 4-6 and acted as a direct sequel to Halloween 2. You can see how well that worked out, with H20 and Resurrected being the worst films in the whole franchise. Carpenter's original vision for the franchise wasn't a never-ending slasher sequel-fest. It was to be a new, clever "anthology" series of movies. A reimagining of Michael Myers is certainly more interesting than Halloween 9, where Michael fights another gangsta rapper. I'll be looking forward to this one.