After It smashed the September box office last year everyone began looking for the next Stephen King classic to do-over. The most exciting of these projects has to be Pet Sematary. Easily one of King’s greatest novels, the story tells of Doctor Louis Creed whom, after moving into a new place, discovers that there’s a mystical burial ground behind his house that has the power to reanimate the dead. After his daughter’s beloved pet cat Church is the victim of a road traffic accident, Louis tests the site out and soon finds himself on a very slippery slope. A Pet Sematary film already exists of course; directed by Mary Lambert, it was a great adaptation, but it hasn’t quite stood the test of time – hence the remake. The most exciting element of the new project is that it’s being directed by the brilliant minds of Dennis Widmyer and Kevin Kölsch who made Starry Eyes.
Given how well they handled Starry Eyes, as well as their section of horror anthology Holidays, we have a feeling that this film is going to be something very special. The directing duo are currently in Canada working on pre-production for the film, which is due in cinemas 19th April 2019, and it seems that they’ve managed to tick at least one thing off of their list, having now cast their Jud Crandall. Crandall is the Creed family’s neighbour, and a man who knows all too well about the power of the Pet Sematary. The role was played beautifully by Fred Gwynne in the original, and it was announced today that John Lithgow is attached to the part this time around. With Jason Clarke rumoured to be poised to play Louis Creed, this is a cast that is shaping up very nicely. All we need now is for Alex Essoe to be cast as Rachel Creed, and everything would be pretty perfect for us.
Pet Sematary will arrive in UK cinemas on 19th April 2018.
