James Wan Announces Remake of Iconic ‘Creature From the Black Lagoon’

James Wan, known for his work on “Aquaman,” is set to go back into aquatic horror with a new project. He’s gearing up to helm a remake of “Creature From the Black Lagoon” for Universal Pictures, marking an exciting development for fans of the genre.

This new iteration promises a “grounded modernized retelling” that emphasizes visceral horror while honoring the classic 1954 original directed by Jack Arnold, which featured Richard Carlson and Julia Adams. Over the decades, several attempts to reboot the iconic black-and-white monster film have faltered, despite interest from notable directors like Guillermo del Toro.

Universal Pictures is now reviving the franchise, seeking to capitalize on its rich history of classic monsters. After the failure of Tom Cruise’s “The Mummy” in launching a Dark Universe, Universal has shifted focus to standalone projects.

The studio has seen success with 2020’s “The Invisible Man,” which earned $143 million worldwide on a modest budget, but faced disappointment with “Renfield,” which struggled at the box office. Additionally, a new “Wolf Man” remake with Christopher Abbott is in development.

Wan’s production company, Atomic Monster, which recently merged with Blumhouse and is known for hits like “M3GAN,” “The Nun,” and “Annabelle,” will produce the remake.

Wan, renowned for his contributions to the horror genre with franchises such as “The Conjuring” and “Saw,” also boasts two billion-dollar films, “Furious 7” and “Aquaman,” in his portfolio. Michael Clear and Judson Scott of Atomic Monster will serve as executive producers, while Jay Polidoro of Universal will oversee the project.