[Movies] MGM To Remake The Incredible Shrinking Man Posted by Joseph Lee on 02.13.2013
Richard Matheson is writing with his son...
MGM has acquired the rights to Richard Matheson's sci-fi novel The Shrinking Man, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The plan is to create an updated version of the story, which was last made in 1957 as The Incredible Shrinking Man.
Matheson (who turns 87 this month) will write the screenplay with his son Richard Matheson Jr. It will keep the tone of the original story but update it to modern times. Matheson is famous for I Am Legend (last adapted into 2007's movie starring Will Smith), Twilight Zone episodes (Steel was turned into the Hugh Jackman film Real Steel) and Steven Spielberg's Duel.
The book follows a man who is exposed to radiation and insecticide and begins to shrink. The new version will reflect advancements such as nanotechnology. Matheson called the new version "an existential action movie" and said: "My original story was a metaphor for how man's place in the world was diminishing. That still holds today, where all these advancements that are going to save us will be our undoing."
Universal held the rights for decades. They released the original film and, along with Imagine Entertainment, have tried to come up with a new version. At one point, Eddie Murphy was attached to play a magician who shrinks due to a spell. The comedy element of the story has been used in 1981's The Incredible Shrinking Woman and 1989's Honey I Shrunk The Kids. This new version will not be a comedy. Universal's rights lapsed in the summer and MGM picked it up.
Jonathan Glickman, president of MGM's motion picture group, said: "The themes of The Shrinking Man continue to be relevant. And the Mathesons' cutting-edge ideas for the adaptation will make for a great film that will play all over the world."
Matheson Sr. added: "It's one of those fantasy concepts that does not age." He continues to write and even has a new book out later this year called Leave Yesterday Alone. He will produce the new film with Matheson Jr. and Alan Gasmer via Matheson Entertainment. The company holds the rights to the combined works of Matheson and Matheson Jr. Matheson Jr is also an author and has a book out this year called Paranoia.
Director of development Matt Dines will oversee the project for MGM.
