By Jacob VanGundy
| Published
Scary Movie, the 2000s horror parody franchise, is receiving a reboot with the original creators back behind the wheel. A new deal with Miramax will see the Wayans Brothers return to the property they created over 20 years ago. The return of the whacky parody series promises to bring comedy back to the big screen.
A joint statement from Marlon, Shawn, and Keenen Ivory Wayans confirmed that they would be writing the Scary Movie reboot. While the film was originally announced earlier this year, the iconic comedy family returning to the franchise has fans excited about the project. It’s unknown if Keenen Ivory Wayans will return as director for the new film, a position he held on the first two entries in the franchise.
Scary Movie Was A Massive Hit
When the first Scary Movie came out in 2000, it was a huge hit and helped to define the decade’s comedic sensibilities, a legacy that has earned it a modern reboot. The original movie earned $278 million on a budget of only $19 million, spawning four sequels. It also created a specific mold for parody movies, with dozens of other films imitating the Wayans style.
The popular comedy franchise’s return is exciting news, but the Scary Movie reboot is also significant because it’s a Wayans Brother reunion. It has been 18 years since the trio worked on a movie together, with the last entry being the disappointing 2006 flop Little Man. Bringing a pop-culture savvy, whacky brand of humor, the brothers were major comedy figures in the 1990s and 2000s, and their return as collaborators is huge news.
Righting One Of Harvey Weinstein’s Wrongs
Some fans also see Miramax giving the Scary Movie reboot to the Wayans as righting a wrong. Earlier this year Marlon Wayans accused Harvey Weinstein, the former head of Miramax, of stealing the franchise from his family, exploiting a weak contract to take the franchise away from them. The Wayans were uninvolved with the franchise after its second entry, with David Zucker taking over as the franchise’s guiding voice.
Little is known about the Scary Movie reboot outside the Wayans Brothers returning. No casting news has been announced, so it isn’t known if series staples like Anna Farris and Regina Hall will be returning or if the movie will focus on a new cast. It’s also unknown what movies the Wayans will be parodying, though the popular elevated horror sub-genre is a likely candidate.
Heading To Theaters
One detail we do know about the Scary Movie reboot is that it’s receiving a wide theatrical release. As box office returns have diminished, many movies, especially comedies, have been released straight to streaming in recent years. In their statement, the Wayans assured fans that this would not be the case for the upcoming movie, which will be released domestically by Miramax and globally by Paramount.
The last few decades have seen very few pure comedies in theaters, but the Scary Movie reboot could be a sign that it’s coming to an end. Nostalgic revivals have a mixed record but with the return of the Wayans and the lack of recent comedies, it could be a hit. The movie is set to film in 2025, so fans should look for the film to come out late next year or in 2026.
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