'80s Remakes Are All the Rage

1986's Short Circuit is the most recent film to get retouched

BY EMIL TIEDEMANN

In light of recent go-aheads for remakes of '80s classics Child's Play, Footloose and A Nightmare on Elm Street, Dimension Films has landed a screenwriter for yet another re-do of an '80s hit, Short Circuit (TriStar Pictures)

Dan Milano (Robot Chicken, Greg the Bunny) is expected to author an edgier script for the reboot, which will be produced by Ryan E. Heppe, John Hyde and David Foster, the latter of who co-produced the 1986 original, in addition to last year's WALL-E.

Short Circuit, which starred Ally Sheedy and Steve Guttenberg, was set around an armed sentient robot named "SAINT Number 5" (a.k.a. "Johnny 5"), who acquired a personality after being struck by lightning, and who tries to avoid its own destruction by seeking help from some human "friends."

"We're bringing Number 5 into the 21st century and taking advantage of the improvements in robotics that are so massive that robots are now performing heart surgeries in hospitals," claimed Foster. "We think of WALL-E as an extended trailer for our film, because it's the same face." Both robots have stunning similarities (check out the picture on the right).

The 1986 original grossed more than $40 million during its theatrical run, allowing it to inspire a video game and an less successful sequel, Short Circuit 2 (1988). The remake is due sometime next year.