With remakes dominating cinemas in recent years, it was only a matter of time before talk of a musical remake of the fantastic 1986 horror comedy Little Shop of Horrors happened. But with the cast starting to take shape, things have gotten far more interesting.
Little Shop of Horrors tells the musical story of a nerdy florist who manages to find a chance for success and romance with help from a strange creature; a giant man-eating plant that demands to be fed.
The original movie came out in 1960 and slowly gained a cult following through word of mouth and a small appearance by a young Jack Nicholson. The film was eventually adapted into an Off-Broadway musical show by producer David Geffen, who helped turn that music version into a much loved film in 1986 with legendary puppet master Frank Oz.
In January, a brand new film adaptation was announced by Full Circle Cinema, which is said to be a remake of the 1986 musical. One month later, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the film was being developed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Details at this point in time are scarce, but what we do know is that casting is underway, with the director already locked.
Directing the remake is Greg Berlanti, who is most famous for his work on the CW’s “Arrowverse” as well as the romantic comedy-drama Love, Simon (2018).
On the casting front, Tony Award winning singer and actor Billy Porter has been cast as the voice of Audrey II, the man-eating plant. It is unclear how Audrey II will be brought to life this time, after an impressive feat of puppetry work designed by Lyle Conway. It’s highly likely that Audrey II will be brought to life via CGI, but we won’t know until nearer the time of release.
Negotiations have also begun on casting both Seymour and Audrey, with Kingsman’s Taron Egerton up for the role as Seymour, and Black Widow’s Scarlett Johansson as Audrey.
Recently, it was revealed that a Marvel reunion was on the cards as Captain America himself, Chris Evans, has entered talks to play the sadistic dentist D. Scrivello, who was previously played by Steve Martin in an incredibly memorable cameo.
It is unclear at this time whether the songs will be kept the same, or whether new ones will be created. It is likely to feature a mixture of both, to add something new to fans of the original, but not straying too far from what made the original popular.
At the time of writing, there is no official release date, but with casting underway, it is likely that the remake will be released sometime in 2021.
This is sure to be a hit, and with genuinely perfect casting, this will be one to keep an eye on.
And if you can’t wait that long, why not experience the movie yourself at VideOdyssey’s Immersive Screening Event in Liverpool, where you get to meet Audrey II at Mushnik’s Flower Shop and sing along with fellow fans. Tickets can be purchased over Eventbrite for the next few events.