A John Goodman Cult Classic Is Getting A Remake
One of the best classic comedies that starred John Goodman is receiving the remake treatment, and it could bring back some of the original cast.
This article is more than 2 years old
If you’re afraid of spiders, you might want to skip this upcoming remake of an underrated cult classic John Goodman movie. Arachnophobia is officially getting the remake treatment, with James Wan producing and Christopher Landon directing. Michael Clear is also on board to produce along with Frank Marshall, who directed the original movie in 1990.
Arachnophobia was a horror comedy that starred Jeff Daniels as a doctor who moves to a small town that ends up getting infested with a killer species of spiders from South America. John Goodman starred as an exterminator named Delbert McClintock. The cast was rounded out by Henry Jones, Harley Jane Kozak, Frances Bay, Mark L. Taylor, Julian Sands, and more. No word yet if John Goodman or Jeff Daniels will be returning in any capacity. Since this is a straight-up remake, they could always reprise their roles. They could also end having a cameo in the movie as a wink to fans of the original.
Whether or not Daniels and John Goodman return, it seems like the Arachnophobia remake has a solid team steering the ship. In addition to having the original director on as a producer, James Wan is also known for putting together critically acclaimed horror productions. Though he’s a little busy directing huge superhero movies with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom right now, he certainly has his bonafide in horror. Wan has directed horror films like Saw, The Conjuring, and Insidious. He has also written the scripts for movies in those franchises. Christopher Landon is no stranger to horror either, having directed Happy Death Day, Happy Death Day 2U, and Freaky. He also has writing credits on several movies in the Paranormal Activity franchise. In short, you can at least count on the Arachnophobia remake to bring the scares.
It would be interesting to see John Goodman return to this remake in some capacity. Though he’s been busy in the TV realm lately, he’s always a welcome presence on the big screen. Goodman is one of the reasons that the original is so beloved, and he can help cover the comedy side of the comedy horror equation. Goodman is plenty adept at horror as well, with his creepy turn in 10 Cloverfield Lane being a particular standout. Arachnophobia currently holds a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is amazing for a B-movie homage. The remake has some pretty big shoes to fill but with the team behind it, it’ll probably be a solid effort. It remains to be seen if the new movie will take on the same tone as the original.
Although Wan and Landon definitely have the horror chops, the movie wouldn’t be the same without the comic aspect. In fact, the original isn’t necessarily scary, so much as a fun creature feature. Of course, if you’re as afraid of spiders as Jeff Daniels’ character is, it’s probably plenty scary on its own. There’s no news on a release date or cast for the Arachnophobia remake, but those details will surely be revealed soon enough. In the meantime, you can always check out the John Goodman-starring original and see how it holds up.
