Shout! Factory Lands U.S. Rights to the Upcoming Remake of David Cronenberg’s Rabid
Jonathan Barkan
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Huge news today as Shout! Factory has revealed that it has locked down the U.S. rights to the upcoming Rabid remake, which is being directed by Jen and Sylvia Soska (American Mary, Dead Hooker in a Trunk). They will be handling digital, on-demand, broadcast, home entertainment, and select SVOD rights for cross-platform releases in the U.S. Theatrical rights are being handled by Back 40 Pictures.
Jordan Fields, Vice President of Acquisitions at Shout! Studios, states, “Remaking one of the seminal films of David Cronenberg’s early work is audacious, exciting and not a little nerve-wracking. But there are no better hands in which to place this challenge than the four belonging to the enormously talented Soska sisters. Their creative vision will both honor the Cronenberg ethos and find in Rabid a currency that will terrify today’s audiences.”
Jen and Sylvia Soska add, “It’s a tremendous honor to be re-imaging David’s 1977 body horror classic, RABID, with such incredible support behind us. We are not fans of soulless remakes as seems to be the trend these days as they disrespect the fans and the original body of work. Our RABID is a continuation of the thoughts and conversation David started with his original piece and modernized through a female perspective. This film will truly honor not only the original but Cronenberg’s entire body of work which would not have been possible without a team behind us that cares about the artist and well as the fans. Shout Studios has always put the fans first and this film will blow audiences away with its authenticity and elevated horror.”
The Rabid remake is written by John Serge with the Soska’s and is being produced by Michael Walker, Paul Lalonde, and John Vidette. The film will begin shooting in early April.
In David Cronenberg’s original Rabid, which came out in 1977, a woman, played by porn star Marilyn Chambers, is involved in a motorcycle accident. When she comes out of surgery, she finds a strange orifice in her armpit, one that hides a stinger that feeds on the blood of people around her. Those bitten become infected and the disease beings to spread out of control. The film was executively produced by Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters).
We send our congratulations to the Soska sisters and wish them the best of luck as they begin shooting Rabid in April!
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