‘NeverEnding Story’ Reboot Sends Second FSR Writer to the Bottle

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on February 25, 2009

neverending-story-1

Thank the Gods that we just filled the fridge here at FSR HQ with Shiner Bock, because it is time to commence the drinking binge, folks. Earlier you read about J.L. Sosa’s sadness over the Yogi Bear 3D news, and now I come to you with something even more disheartening, more infuriating and more absurd. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. and a pair of top-tier production banners — including the one owned by Leonardo DiCaprio — are currently in the early stages of a reboot of the 1980s children’s fantasy classic The NeverEnding Story.

And by children’s classic, I mean that it is one of my all-time favorite movies from my childhood. No joke, people. I wanted very badly to be Bastian Bathazar Bux, using the help of my trusted giant friend Falkor to become the hero of Fantasia on behalf of the beautiful and mysterious empress. And as you know, I am usually the resident apologist for remakes and reboots, having seen the process work well with the right kind of vision and passion. For example, Friday the 13th was a great effort and Batman Begins was a perfect way to bring Batman back to the big screen. But even I must admit that the odds are not in this project’s favor — a much higher percentage of remakes, especially those from the most beloved of franchises, usually end in a failure pile stuffed into a sadness bowl (Thanks, Patton Oswalt).

So even though original producer Dieter Geissler is on board, there is no way that I can throw support behind a remake of Wolfgang Peterson’s classic. It was great, a beautiful part of my 1980s childhood experience. And that is where it should stay.

For more information on this abomination of a project, check out THR. Otherwise, please join me for a long night of drinking and sobing.


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  • srsly
    I'm on the fence about reboots. On spec, I hate the possibility of present day reboots disappointingly screwing with my sense of sentimentality... it's like they [Hollywood] are raping my childhood memories for the sake of pre-built audiences. HOWEVER, i was all prepared to hate the Battlestar Galactica reboot, especially when i saw Starbuck was woman, but i gotta say i quickly became a convert after just the first 2 episodes... unlike Planet of the Apes which just made me bored and angry at the same time.

    In general i agree that studios have just gone plain bonkers with the franchise-reboot fad to the point where i'm thinking there isn't a single producer with an original bone in his/her body but i think ultimately, it all depends on the quality of the re-imagination. The key is if it's done really well with a maturity that reflects my own maturity that i've gained from growing up in the intervening years, all while staying true to the spirit of the original, then reboots have the potential of making me fall in love with the franchise all over again. Then again, if they are done poorly, they have the potential of making the adult in me angry and the child in me sad.

    I gotta say though, i'd REALLY like to see a reboot of Star Wars Ep.1-3... With the exception of Darth Maul, all the rest of it needs to be re-written, re-cast, and re-storyboarded from scratch.
  • srsly
    addendum: Ewan McGregor did a good job with the material he was given.
  • Ahh, but have you ever read a book twice? Books change each time you read them.
  • Mal Reynolds
    and they are rebooting labyrinth with fallout boy and Dakota Fanning!
  • I really hope they go for the more dark and gritty reboot with this one.
  • FUCK OFF, HOLLYWOOD.
  • RRRRRRRRWOARRRRRRR!! *Hiss Hiss!!
  • AMEN SISTER!
  • I really wish that I could successfully scream my angst at this news.
    nothing is sacred. nothing.
    pass the gin...
    I'm sure the CGI rock monster will be glorious...as well as the eddie murphy voiced falcor, and an animated artrax...b/c hollywood is being oh so original.
    or something like that.
    total bollox!
  • WTF?!! Really? Just leave the damn thing alone!!! I love David Bowie's performance on the original.
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