Genre: Horror.
Studio:
Anchor Bay.
Production Company:
Market Square Productions.
Project Phase: In the Can.
Who's In It:
Bill Hinzman returns to his role as the cemetary zombie;
Scott Vladimire Licina (Reverend Hicks); Debbie Rochon (Darlene
Davis); Grant Kramer (Dan).
Other additional actors will be hired to play additional zombies.
Who's Making It:
John A. Russo (Director, Screenwriter, New Dialog); Karl Hardman (Producer); Joe Wolf (Executive
Producer); Russell Streiner (Co-Producer); Bill Hinzman (Director of Photography);
Vincent J. Guastini (Special Makeup Effects); relying upon the existing 1968 film Night of the
Living Dead, directed and co-written by George A. Romero.
Premise: Without warning one day the dead rise and attack the living. Trapped in an house surrounded by dozens of the ghouls, a group of frightened people struggle to cope with this nightmarish event. But they must also remain alert and ensure that none of the creatures enter their sanctuary -- lest they wish to join the ranks of the dead.
Release Date: January 1999?
Comments: Even though there had been earlier cases of 'special edition' films (such as Steven Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Special Edition version back in 1979), the Star Wars Special Editions films have Hollywood studios re-examining their library of films with a new gaze. Warner Bros. plans to release The Exorcist: Special Edition film and there's also been talk about a WB Superman Special Edition. In any case now filmmakers have the chance to go back and 'insert' either discarded footage (shot during the original production but never used) or create entirely new footage then added to the 'new' film; in effect, this creates a 'Special Edition'. Because of the financial and technological successes the three Star Wars Special Editions have shown moviemakers, you can expect to see 'new' releases of many of your favorite films again. That seems to now be the case for the 1968 film that has inspired and terrified its viewers for thirty years so far: George A. Romero's Night of the Living Dead.
Rumors of a special edition Night of the Living Dead film were nothing more than rumors for more than a year -- but now we know the project is active. And like those doubtful viewers tuning in to watch news reports during the early days of the living dead awakenings, we'll soon see just how real this project is.
Rumors: Reports of a special editon of NofLD began as early as summer 1997 when British magazines that specialize in covering science fiction entertainment reported that a revamped NotLD was in development. Those rumors turned out to either be premature or false. In late summer 1998 CA confirmed the existence of this project.
Scoop Feedback:
August 30, 1998... Coming Attractions has been able to confirm that reports of a forthcoming special edition of George Romero's 1968 horror classic, Night of the Living Dead, are indeed legitimate. John A. Russo, co-writer of the original film, now returns to direct as well as write the new scenes to be inserted into the original NofLD. The actor who played the role of the 'Cemetary Zombie', Bill Hinzman, has been the first to be officially signed to reprise his role ("He's coming to get you, Barbara!"); as well, Hinzman will act as the Special Edition's Director of Photography. Also returning to produce the Special Edition film are original NofLD producers Karl Hardman (who also played the character of Harry Cooper in the 1968 film and may get dead once again for the camera) and Russell Streiner (returning this time in a executive producer capacity.) Special effects makeup will be handed by Vincent J. Guastini (who created the angel makeup effects for Kevin Smith's upcoming Dogma film.) Guastini will recreate the look of the ghouls from the '68 NofLD film as well as create new makeup effects using state-of-the-art prosthetics. At the present time original Night of the Living Dead director George A. Romero is not involved with the Special Edition as he is currently busy developing other projects (such as prepping the film version of the hit PlayStation video game Resident Evil.) As the production is still in the early phases, the cast and crew member roster is still being finalized. However, we have been able to ascertain that some makeup effects have been already created.
Our anonymous source also revealed that the makers of the new film are intent on creating the new zombies to look in tune with their 60's counterparts from the original film. In fact the source went out of their way to mention that the filmmakers are very much aware that any new characters or scenes will have to be inserted so as to look natural with respect to the original film's camera angles and film stock. However, Russo does plans on showing some the ghouls in more advanced stages of decomposition or dismemberment, something the visual effects technology for the living dead in the '68 version couldn't achieve.
We weren't told what any of the new scenes or characters would be except for this tiny clue: the origin of the Cemetary Zombie will be most definitely shown in the Special Edition.
[Project confirmation revealed by our friendly, rotting (and anonymous) corpse-source. Your butcher store gift certificate is in the mail.]
September 22, 1998... DPW reports "All new scenes have finished shooting and the production has wrapped." [Thanks to DPW for the scoop.]
December 27, 1998... At last month's Philicon, Tom Savini spoke briefly about what he thought of the Special 30th Edition of NotLD. "They're going to take actors and try to make them look 30 years younger and then reinsert new scenes? Ridiculous!" [Reported by Jeff Spivack.]
January 7, 1999... Thanks to one of our readers (who also picks up the premier horror magazine on the newsstand) we're able to report on some additional information about the Special Edition. But since we've heard nothing further about the anticipated January '99 release date and we're already in that month, if we don't hear something confirming that date soon we'll assume the film's been rescheduled...
"In the last Fangoria, John Russo (the true brainchild of the project) stated that he and his crew are going to make cuts on the film, editing in the new ones at the approiate places. Overall, the film will be the same length (pretty much), but with, as Russo puts it, 'better pacing'.
"Also, something intrestesting to note: Russo plans to write a screenplay based on the comic book 'CHILDREN OF THE DEAD' which is a direct sequel to the original NIGHT. It has to deal with Children of every body surviving the original NIGHT turning into zombies. Holy Children of the Damned, Batman!" ['LarryJordi', Fango reader. You know it, baby!]
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