The long-simmering remake of Stephen King's Firestarter has just gained a new director and writer.
German director Fatih Akin has signed on to direct Universal Pictures' remake of the classic Stephen King story, with Scott Teems joining the production to write a new script. The two replace filmmaker Akiva Goldsman, who signed on to the remake in April 2017 as writer and director; he will will remain attached as producer, alongside Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions.
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Akin is best known for writing and directing last year's critically acclaimed drama In the Fade, which went on to win the 2018 Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film. Teems is best known for producing the Sundance TV original series Rectify.
Published in 1980, King's Firestarter follows a young girl with pyrokinetic abilities who is abducted by a secret government agency that wants to harness her powers as a weapon. The novel was first adapted into a 1984 film starring Drew Barrymore, who will executive produce the upcoming remake.
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A remake of Firestarter had been in development since 2010, but only gained traction after the success of last year's It. The project joins the upcoming television series Castle Rock, a remake of Pet Sematary, adaptations of The Shining sequel Doctor Sleep and The Boogeyman, and a sequel to It in latest wave of King's works headed to film and television.
(via Variety)