Universal Tells Russell Brand to 'Drop Dead'
Never seen the original, but it doesn't look like it was well received
I have never seen the 1991 Phoebe Cates starring comedy Drop Dead Fred and considering the 9% rating at RottenTomatoes and the 4.8/10 by IMDb users I have a feeling there is no need for me to even worry about it. However, Universal apparently believes there is something to the maligned storyline as they hope to remake it as a starring vehicle for Brit funnyman Russell Brand in the role previously occupied by Rik Mayall.
The Hollywood Reporter tells us the original featured Cates as a wallflower who loses her job and husband during the course of a lunch hour. Forced to live back home, she's reunited with her childhood imaginary friend (Mayall), who promises to help but causes more havoc.
Apparently the plan is to make the film in the tone of Beetlejuice, building a universe around the concept of imaginary friends with Brand as the trouble-making pal.
Brand seems like someone that is either going to hit it big over next couple of years or fade away just as quickly as he arrived if audiences don't take to his "brand" of acting. I have heard a lot of negativity aimed in his direction, but I also know he has a lot of fans, which way the general population will go is still undecided.
I thought he was the bright spot in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and he is already lined up for a tangent-sequel to the film for Universal titled Get Him to the Greek, as the star of a remake of Arthur for Warner Bros. and he will lend his voice to the animated Universal feature Despicable Me.
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I loved "Drop Dead Fred"…..I watched it soo many times when I was a kid…And Phoebe Cates…mmmmm very hot! I am not sure about how well Brand will do, Mayall in my opinion was over the top perfect for the role…but I wouldnt mind seeing a remake of this…Keep us posted please!
I have no idea what "Drop Dead Fred" is about, but I like the way Universal is thinking. Meaning: if you need to remake a film, why not go after the ones that weren't so great the first time around and make them better? If they're great the first time around, we'd rather watch them and not the remakes.
When you think of Sarah Marshall you think of Brand's Aldous Snow. His stand up is hilarious, but I know he got into some trouble in the US by making fun of George Bush & the Jonas Brothers, two walking punch lines with no help from Brand frankly. DDF is a movie you kind of like in spite of itself, but I agree with JM. If you have to do a remake, remake something why not do something that was not a great movie (Ocean's 11 anyone?). I'm pretty sure that this will rock!
LOVED drop dead fred when i was little.