Horror Maestro James Wan Reimagines Classic Creature Feature in ‘The Creature From the Black Lagoon’
Renowned horror filmmaker James Wan, the creative mind behind iconic franchises like Saw and The Conjuring, is taking on an exciting new project: a modern reimagining of the black-and-white classic The Creature From the Black Lagoon.
This new adaptation of The Creature From the Black Lagoon is set to be a part of Universal’s “Monster Universe” and is currently in its early stages of development by James Wan and his team. The 47-year-old director is reportedly in negotiations to helm the project himself.
According to international sources, Wan, the mastermind behind Saw, will collaborate with another screenwriter to craft the story for this monster-in-the-lake movie. This will mark Wan’s first directorial venture into horror since his production company, Atomic Monster, merged with the horror powerhouse Blumhouse.
In addition to directing, Wan will also take on the role of producer alongside his trusted collaborators. International press highlights that after steering various DC superhero films, most recently Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023), Wan is returning to solidify his reputation in the horror genre.
Hollywood has been attempting to reboot The Creature From the Black Lagoon since the 1980s. Acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro, known for his horror and fantasy works, was fascinated by the creature in this classic film and sought to reimagine it in the early 2000s, but the project never came to fruition. Instead, del Toro drew inspiration from it to create the creature in his award-winning film The Shape of Water (2017).
The original The Creature From the Black Lagoon, directed by Jack Arnold, was released in 1954 and featured the classic “Beauty and the Beast” motif. The film starred Julie Adams as a woman who becomes the target of the titular Creature. The story captivated audiences with its blend of science fiction, tragedy, and romance, and it is regarded as one of the best black-and-white monster films ever produced by Universal. It remains a standout in Jack Arnold’s golden era of 1950s science fiction cinema.
Details on the cast and release date of the new film have yet to be announced.
