A 60s classic is about to get the remake treatment from one of Hollywood’s modern visionaries. Guillermo Del Toro, the man behind movies likePacific RimandPan’s Labyrinth, is reportedly set to tackle the 1966 sci-fi adventureThe Fantastic Voyageas his next project. According to a new report, filming on the remake is set to being in Toronto this January, which means that Del Toro isn’t going to be moving fromThe Shape of Waterright into a presumably massive production.
The news comes courtesy of Omega Underground who report that 20th Century Fox is hoping to roll cameras on their remake ofFantastic Voyage, a movie they’ve been planning for quite some time, early next year. It was reported back in January of this year by The Hollywood Reporter thatGuillermo Del Torowas in talks to helm the remake for Fox, but no confirmation was ever made. Assuming this report is correct, it looks like that deal may have been made quietly behind closed doors.
The originalFantastic Voyagecentered on a brilliant scientist namedJan Benes(Jean Del Val) who develops a way to shrink humans, and other objects, for brief periods of time. Benes, who is working in communist Russia, is transported by the CIA to America but is attacked en route. to save the scientist, who has developed ablood clot in his brain, ateam of Americans in a nuclear submarineis shrunk and injected into Benes' body. They have a finite period of time to fix the clot and get out before the miniaturization wears off.
James Cameron was looking at directingthe remake ofThe Fantastic Voyageat one point, but then the director decided he wanted to work on his four upcomingAvatarsequels instead. This report notes that Cameron is still set to produceThe Fantastic Voyagealongside Jon Landau. Guillermo del Toro has shot his last three movies,Pacific Rim,Crimson Peak, and the upcomingThe Shape of Waterat Pinewood Toronto Studios. It is expected that this remake will shoot there as well, which lends even more credibility to Del Toro making this his next directorial effort.
The Fantastic Voyagedoes not currently have a release date, but it seems likely that the movie would come out in early 2019 if it does indeed wind up shooting in January. As it stands, the only other movie that Guillermo Del Toro is attached to direct is a dark version ofPinocchio, but there is no indication that would get in the way with him taking on this remake at the present time. IfFantastic Voyagereally is shooting in roughly four months, we should start hearing about potential casting and get some sort of official announcement from Fox very soon. We will be sure to keep you up to date as more information on the project is made available.
