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‘The Fly’: Scream Factory Details Its Massive Franchise Collection

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Remakes tend to get a bad rap. For the most part, that perception is deserved, as many remakes end up as soulless cash grabs that pale in comparison to the original. Some though, like 1986’s The Fly, arguably manage to better their predecessor.

That’s not to say that the older Fly films made in the 1950s and 60s are bad, especially the original, which is quite good. It’s just that by 1986, technology had advanced enough for director David Cronenberg to really explore the terror of the concept.

Leave it to the folks at Scream Factory to assemble every possibly bit of Fly goodness into one Blu-Ray set. Set for release on December 10th, the set includes the classic trilogy, Cronenberg’s remake, and its criminally underrated 1989 sequel The Fly II.

The Fly

While the 1958 original, Return of the Fly, and The Fly (1986) have all seen prior Blu-Ray releases, Curse of the Fly and The Fly II are seeing HD disc in the U.S. for the first time ever. Scream Factory has assembled a mammoth selection of extras, seen below.

The Fly (1958)

  • NEW Audio Commentary with author/film historian Steve Haberman & filmmaker/historian Constantine Nasr
  • Audio Commentary with actor David Hedison and film historian David Del Valle
  • Biography: Vincent Price
  • Fly Trap: Catching a Classic
  • Fox Movietone News
  • Theatrical Trailer

Return of the Fly (1959)

  • NEW Audio Commentary with actor David Frankham
  • NEW Audio Commentary with author/film historian Tom Weaver
  • Audio Commentary with actor Brett Halsey and film historian David Del Valle
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • TV Spot
  • Still Gallery

Curse of the Fly (1965)

  • NEW Audio Commentary with author/film historian Steve Haberman and filmmaker/historian Constantine Nasr
  • NEW interview with actress Mary Manson
  • NEW interview with continuity Renee Glynee
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • TV Spot
  • Still Gallery

The Fly (1986)

  • NEW Audio Commentary with author/film historian William Beard
  • NEW The Meshuggener Scientist – an interview with executive producer Mel Brooks
  • NEW Beauty and the Beast – an interview with producer Stuart Cornfeld
  • NEW A Tragic Opera – an interview with composer Howard Shore
  • NEW David’s Eyes – an interview with cinematographer Mark Irwin
  • NEW interview with casting director Deirdre Bowen
  • Audio Commentary with director David Cronenberg
  • Fear of the Flesh: The Making of THE FLY – covering all 3 stages of the production – Larva, Pupa and Metamorphosis
  • The Brundle Museum of Natural History with Chris Walas and Bob Burns
  • Deleted Scenes with Storyboard and Script versions
  • Extended Scenes
  • Alternate Ending
  • Test Footage (Main Titles, Lighting and Makeup Effects)
  • Vintage featurette/Profile on David Cronenberg
  • Still Galleries (Publicity, Behind-The-Scenes, Concept Art and Visual Effects)
  • Theatrical Trailers
  • TV Spots
  • George Langelaan’s short story
  • Charles Edward Pouge’s Original Screenplay
  • David Cronenberg’s Screenplay Rewrite
  • Magazine articles with photos and video
  • Trivia Track
  • Two Easter Eggs

The Fly II (1989)

  • NEW Fly in the Ointment – an interview with producer Stuart Cornfeld
  • NEW Original Visions – an interview with screenwriter Mick Garris
  • NEW Version 2.0 – an interview with screenwriter Ken Wheat
  • NEW Big and Gothic – an interview with composer Christopher Young
  • NEW Pretty Fly for A Fly Guy – an interview with special effects artist Tom Sullivan
  • NEW interview with cinematographer Robin Vidgeon
  • Interview with director Chris Walas
  • Interview with producer Steven-Charles Jaffe
  • Audio Commentary with director Chris Walas and film historian Bob Burns
  • Transformations: Looking Back at The Fly II
  • The Fly Papers: The Buzz on Hollywood’s Scariest Insect
  • Video Production Journal – a behind-the-scenes look at the special effects
  • Composer’s Master Class: Christopher Young
  • Storyboard to Film Comparisons with optional commentary by director Chris Walas
  • Vintage Featurette
  • Extended Press Kit Interviews with Eric Stoltz, Daphne Zuniga and Chris Walas
  • Alternate Ending
  • Deleted Scene
  • Teaser Trailer
  • Theatrical Trailer
  • Still Gallery
  • Storyboard Gallery

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The Original ‘Beetlejuice’ Sequel Had an Interesting Location

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beetlejuice in Hawaii Movie

Back in the late ’80s and early ’90s sequels to hit movies weren’t as linear as they are today. It was more like “let’s re-do the situation but in a different location.” Remember Speed 2, or National Lampoon’s European Vacation? Even Aliens, as good as it is, follows a lot of the plot points of the original; people stuck on a ship, an android, a little girl in peril instead of a cat. So it makes sense that one of the most popular supernatural comedies of all time, Beetlejuice would follow the same pattern.

In 1991 Tim Burton was interested in doing a sequel to his 1988 original, it was called Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian:

“The Deetz family moves to Hawaii to develop a resort. Construction begins, and it’s quickly discovered that the hotel will be sitting on top of an ancient burial ground. Beetlejuice comes in to save the day.”

Burton liked the script but wanted some re-writes so he asked then-hot screenwriter Daniel Waters who had just got done contributing to Heathers. He passed on the opportunity so producer David Geffen offered it to Troop Beverly Hills scribe Pamela Norris to no avail.

Eventually, Warner Bros. asked Kevin Smith to punch up Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian, he scoffed at the idea, saying, “Didn’t we say all we needed to say in the first Beetlejuice? Must we go tropical?”

Nine years later the sequel was killed. The studio said Winona Ryder was now too old for the part and an entire re-cast needed to happen. But Burton never gave up, there were a lot of directions he wanted to take his characters, including a Disney crossover.

“We talked about lots of different things,” the director said in Entertainment Weekly. “That was early on when we were going, Beetlejuice and the Haunted MansionBeetlejuice Goes West, whatever. Lots of things came up.”

Fast-forward to 2011 when another script was pitched for a sequel. This time the writer of Burton’s Dark Shadows,  Seth Grahame-Smith was hired and he wanted to make sure the story wasn’t a cash-grabbing remake or reboot. Four years later, in 2015, a script was approved with both Ryder and Keaton saying they would return to their respective roles. In 2017 that script was revamped and then eventually shelved in 2019.

During the time the sequel script was being tossed around in Hollywood, in 2016 an artist named Alex Murillo posted what looked like one-sheets for a Beetlejuice sequel. Although they were fabricated and had no affiliation with Warner Bros. people thought they were real.

Perhaps the virality of the artwork sparked interest in a Beetlejuice sequel once again, and finally, it was confirmed in 2022 Beetlejuice 2 had a green light from a script written by Wednesday writers  Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. The star of that series Jenna Ortega signed on to the new movie with filming starting in 2023. It was also confirmed that Danny Elfman would return to do the score.

Burton and Keaton agreed that the new film titled Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice wouldn’t rely on CGI or other other forms of technology. They wanted the film to feel “handmade.” The film wrapped in November 2023.

It’s been over three decades to come up with a sequel to Beetlejuice. Hopefully, since they said aloha to Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian there has been enough time and creativity to ensure Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice will not only honor the characters, but fans of the original.

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice will open theatrically on September 6.

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Russell Crowe To Star in Another Exorcism Movie & It’s Not a Sequel

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Maybe it’s because The Exorcist just celebrated its 50th-anniversary last year, or maybe it’s because aging Academy Award-winning actors aren’t too proud to take on obscure roles, but Russell Crowe is visiting the Devil once again in yet another possession film. And it’s not related to his last one, The Pope’s Exorcist.

According to Collider, the film titled The Exorcism was originally going to be released under the name The Georgetown Project. Rights for its North American release were once in the hands of Miramax but then went to Vertical Entertainment. It will release on June 7 in theaters then head over to Shudder for subscribers.

Crowe will also star in this year’s upcoming Kraven the Hunter which is set to drop in theaters on August 30.

As for The Exorcism, Collider provides us with what it’s about:

“The film centers around actor Anthony Miller (Crowe), whose troubles come to the forefront as he shoots a supernatural horror movie. His estranged daughter (Ryan Simpkins) has to figure out whether he’s lapsing into his past addictions, or if something even more horrific is occurring. “

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New F-Bomb Laden ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Trailer: Bloody Buddy Movie

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Deadpool & Wolverine might be the buddy movie of the decade. The two heterodox superheroes are back in the latest trailer for the summer blockbuster, this time with more f-bombs than a gangster film.

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Movie Trailer

This time the focus is on Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman. The adamantium-infused X-Man is having a bit of a pity party when Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) arrives on the scene who then tries to convince him to team up for selfish reasons. The result is a profanity-filled trailer with a Strange surprise at the end.

Deadpool & Wolverine is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. It comes out on July 26. Here is the latest trailer, and we suggest if you are at work and your space isn’t private, you might want to put in headphones.

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