Reboots are often tricky due to the fact that the original is often better, but there are some exceptions. With enhanced special effects and possibly changing the plot up, reboots can breathe new life into a film that has long been forgotten or wasn’t good to begin with. 2021 has a couple of interesting reboots on the way and here are the top five reboots to be on the lookout for.
Wrong Turn
In 2003 we were introduced to the idea of not venturing into the woods alone or even straying off the path of a hiking trail. Wrong Turn wasn’t the best horror film released, but it certainly was a lot of fun. The same can’t be said for the subsequent five sequels that were released over the course of eleven years with the sixth film being released in 2014. Now a reboot is on the way and the original screenwriter for the first film, Alan B. McElroy, is returning to pen the screenplay to the newest entry in the Wrong Turn franchise. We aren’t exactly sure if this is a sequel to the original film or a standalone project but based on the previews, we can see that a decent budget was made available to this entry and appears to add quite a bit of suspense as well. Wrong Turn is due to release in the United States for a one-night only show on January 26. It certainly looks better than those cheesy and awful Direct-to-DVD sequels and we are excited to see what this latest entry has to offer. Tickets are available so be sure to check your local listings.
Resident Evil
One of the most iconic video game franchises made it’s live-action debut in 2002 and fans became sharply divided as to the reception of the film. Personally, it’s one of my most hated films as it wasn’t scary and only borrowed elements from the games while trying to be its own story. Despite a mixed reception, a franchise was born and five sequels were released. Director Johannes Roberts (best known for directing 47 Meters Down and The Strangers: Prey at Night) is taking the reins for this upcoming reboot that promises to deliver the scares and be directly based off the first game and incorporate Raccoon City into the plot. Now, if this movie can succeed in being scary and remind us gamers of the games that used to keep us up at night, then perhaps Resident Evil has a chance of being a true horror film that it was meant to be. Resident Evil is scheduled to be released on September 9 2021.
Mortal Kombat
A game that changed the industry forever mostly notably for its depiction of on-screen violence saw it’s live-action adaptation in 1995 and was quite a surprise to say the least. While the movie failed to capture the extreme violence that the games are known for, it did serve as a cheesy B-movie and featured the iconic theme song that the games never could’ve dreamed of. A sequel was made and was nowhere even close to matching the fun times of the 1995 (which is regarded as one of the best video game adaptations ever made) but Mortal Kombat: Legacy, a web series brought a unique look that did show promise. Now, a long-awaited reboot is one the way and we can only hope that it can match the game and deliver the goods on the fighting we’ve come to love in this epic franchise. Always remember that iconic line, “Test Your Might!” Mortal Kombat is due to release on April 16 2021.
The Suicide Squad
It’s only been four years since we were introduced to the Suicide Squad, and even then, a lot of people were displeased with the film. While the action looked good, the plot wasn’t that interesting and featured a shocking low amount of character development. James Gunn (writer and director or The Guardians of the Galaxy) takes over this time around and this film will serve as a reboot but also a sequel to the 2016 original. Considering that Gunn is involved, we can expect plenty of laughs along the way and he hardly disappoints with providing us with fun entertainment. The Suicide Squad is due to hit theaters on August 6 2021!
Dune
When one considers a sci-fi epic to watch you’d probably think of Star Wars or Alien. Both have turned into colossal franchises but there’s one that missed that boat and that is Dune. The 1965 novel is highly regarded and explores similar themes that Star Wars does but is an imaginative and incredible piece of work. The 1984 film, directed by David Lynch, was a box office bomb and a disaster among critics and fans of the novels. Denis Villeneuve is bringing the newest adaptation to the big screen and sadly it was due to release in 2020 but was delayed. From the looks of the early previews and Villeneuve previous work on Blade Runner: 2049 I expect that this updated version of Dune will be the most anticipated sci-fi film of 2021. Fans have waited long enough and if the film plays closely to its source material, until the 1984 original, then we could have a major film on our hands. The highly anticipated Dune reboot is scheduled to be released on October 1 2021. Note that this isn’t a standalone film, it’s the beginning of a two-part film series just to encompass the sheer size of the story itself! If you’re a sci-fi fan, then this film will surely be on the top of your list of reboots!