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David Cronenberg is Remaking David Cronenberg's The Fly

by Alex Billington
September 23, 2009

Yep, you read that right. David Cronenberg is developing a reboot of his own 1986 sci-fi classic The Fly. Cronenberg's film is already a remake of Kurt Neumann's 1958 film of the same name as well. The story centers on an eccentric scientist named Seth Brundle (played by Jeff Goldblum) who, after an experiment with teleportation goes awry, is transformed into a fly. Geena Davis starred as Goldblum's love interest, Veronica. Oddly, Cronenberg has said in the past that he did not want to be involved a remake, but now he's just doing it on his own. I can't wait for someone to talk with him to find out exactly why he's coming back.

This is only in the early development stages (via Risky Biz), so we're not sure when Cronenberg will get to this. A return to The Fly would also mark the latest in a mini-trend of directors remaking their own work. Michael Haneke last year remade his thriller Funny Games while Werner Herzog re-imagined his doc Little Dieter Learns to Fly with the 2006 feature Rescue Dawn. Cronenberg was attached to direct the Robert Ludlum adaptation The Matarese Circle but apparently ditched that to take on Cosmopolis instead. The Fly is a seminal sci-fi classic, but even with Cronenberg directing, I'm not sure a reboot is a good idea?

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Reader Feedback - 31 Comments

This is amazing. The fact that he's remaking his own remaking is just...wow. Love it.

Itri on Sep 23, 2009

i made a joke that Spielberg should remake JAWS before someone else messed it up... never thought it would come true!

BONO on Sep 23, 2009

The Dieter feature movie was "Rescue Dawn" it has no affiliation with the Twilight movies.

jules on Sep 23, 2009

Perhaps, just like myself, he was inspired by District 9 that the technology is there to make a great The Fly movie. I thought about this a number of times after seeing that movie, and I'm thrilled at the prospects. The Fly is a phenominal movie, and I'd love to see it properly remade.

Mark Drennan on Sep 23, 2009

NO CRONENBERG! HAVE YOU GONE INSANE?! The 1986 version is fine as it is. Don't remake your own work! Where's the ingenuity in that? Hopefully Cronenberg will step away and give us something original. DEATH TO REMAKES! LONG LIVE ORIGINALITY!

Dr. Gonzo on Sep 23, 2009

there's not much more challenging than doing a remake of a good movie which you made! maybe eliminating world hunger? lol

Kalladin on Sep 24, 2009

I bet it rocks. Well, I hope so

smacky63 on Sep 24, 2009

hope he uses Jeff Goldblum again

Mars on Sep 24, 2009

So Cronie's going to remake his own remake about the horrors of 'remaking'? Has he actually watched his own film? There aint no happy ending to this!

Dave on Sep 24, 2009

I love the 1986 version... i FUCKIN LOVE IT in not down for a remake but i know ill pay to see it

DoomCanoe on Sep 24, 2009

i guess the question for Cronenberg is: What sort of new idea can he inject to the already-great 1986 version of The Fly (don't forget it was a remake itself)? How about doing a sequel of it? Disregard the existing of the lame MartinFly 1989 version sequel The Fly II?

SowYau on Sep 24, 2009

He'll use Viggo Mortensen.

Greedo on Sep 24, 2009

This was one of my favorite movies as a kid

Trey on Sep 24, 2009

Hehe, would be funny if Jeff Goldblum starred in it again? 🙂

David Banner on Sep 24, 2009

lol, well done #9.

Matty on Sep 24, 2009

This was such a great movie. Ugh...this is scary though, I hope they do it well. Heck, I'd have no problems bringing back Goldblum, that guy is awesome! I watch Criminal Intent now, sometimes, because of him.

Tra la la la la di da on Sep 24, 2009

Please, David, don't do this! The Fly is perfect as it is. I can't imagine anyone other than Jeff Goldblum in the role.

EJP on Sep 24, 2009

the studio would make it with or without Cronenberg , so thank god for with. If only the Videodrome remake shared the same fate.

Josh on Sep 24, 2009

I'm down for a remake. With all of the CGI and advanced movie-making technology, just imagine how much better looking everything would be. I would like to see Jeff Goldblum make an appearance in the film, like maybe play the doctor who is about to perform the abortion or someone like that. Let someone else lead this one. Goldblum had his glory in the first remake.

Lee on Sep 24, 2009

'Better technology' is not a good enough justification for a remake. Constantly going over old ground just making it look a bit slicker and flashier is not healthy for films or film fans, yet it seems that we've all started to be brainwashed into thinking that this is somehow acceptable and a good thing. I've said this before countless times, but if you're the sort of person who can't look past technical deficiencies to appreciate the heart of a film - it's story and characters - that remains timeless, you're not a true film fan. You're a vacuous moron. That said, if anyone is going to do yet another version of The Fly, I'm glad it's Cronenberg remaking his remake, not some commercials/music video twerp. And maybe they could make the Fly actually, y'know, FLY this time? 😉

Mathieu on Sep 24, 2009

well, here we go Now start to remake of remake and if that fails we make ramake of it!

redcarp on Sep 24, 2009

I just rewatched the old trailer for this movie, and in the end you can hear Jeff Goldblum say "Help me. Please help me." Man, that still makes every hair on my body stand up. This movie is so creepy and sad, I love it. The acting was superb and I really sympathized with the characters. I am not completely against a remake, but I am a little scared that the replacement of amazing make-up effects and handmade gore with CGI will take something away from Cronenberg's first movie. P.S.: I just heard that Nicolas Cage would like to play the role of Seth Brundle in the remake. And while I have to admit that Cage and Goldblum are kinda similar in their physical appearance (tall, slender, long-legged, droopy-eyed, dark-haired), I would still rather have the latter back for this.

SuicidalOptimist on Sep 24, 2009

that's what made The Fly so good, was lack of special effects back then (yet back in the 80's they where top notch, I'm sure). you had to compensate for lack of effects and do other stuff creatively. Now they'll just CGI everything and that's that. But with Dave directing, we'll still get the same emotions that were felt throughout.

wm on Sep 24, 2009

Well said post# 20! It's a bonus if Cronenberg is on board as director, 'cos i share the view of #18, Studio will go ahead even without him.

SowYau on Sep 24, 2009

I just have to lol.

JimD on Sep 24, 2009

Pointless marketeering. The 'Art' of moviemaking is gone.

Dr. Duvel on Sep 25, 2009

I say we take off and nuke Hollywood from orbit. It's the only way to be sure...

Fed Up With Hollywood on Sep 25, 2009

So, where are all the people yelling "there's no creativity left in Holywood!"?

SlashBeast on Sep 25, 2009

#27 LOL!!!!! best use of an Aliens quote

matt on Sep 28, 2009

Well I was just discussing this with my friend and hoped there would be a cool remake. Here are several actors I had in mind for the roll of the fly: John Cusak Robert Downy, Jr. Johnny Depp Of course Jeff Goldblum and Gina Davis should make cameo appearances but I really think any of those three could pull off the roll. Let me know what you think. Just email me. Thanks, Robert

Robert on Jul 16, 2010

I want someone else to play the fly in the reboot movie.

Joseph Lucas,III on Apr 10, 2011

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