It's capable of transforming loved ones into relentless killers, and the deadly infection featured in David Cronenberg's Rabid (1977) will find new life in a newly announced remake that's set to be directed by Jen and Sylvia Soska.

Variety reports the Rabid remake news, revealing that Somerville House Releasing has teamed up with Paul Lalonde and Michael Walker to finance not only a film based on Cronenberg's Rabid, but a TV series as well.

It's unclear how involved the Soskas (American Mary, See No Evil 2) will be with the TV series, but filming on the feature-length remake is expected to start this summer in Canada. Here's what the Soskas had to say about joining the project (via Variety):

“The work of David Cronenberg is legendary and ‘Rabid’ is much more than just a horror movie. The real message of his film is powerful, and even more pivotal as we look at the world around us today. It’s an honor to be involved in this love letter to his original, which we handle with the same respect as Paul Schrader’s ‘Cat People,’ Alexandre Aja’s ‘The Hills Have Eyes’ and John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing.'"

We'll keep Daily Dead readers updated on further details as they are announced. For those unfamiliar with Rabid, we have the film's official synopsis (via Arrow Films) and trailer (via TrashTrailers):

"When beautiful Rose (adult film star Marilyn Chambers) is badly injured in a motorcycle crash, Dr. Keloid, who is in the process of developing a revolutionary new type of skin-graft, seizes the opportunity to test out his as yet unproven methods. The surgery appears successful and Rose seems restored to full health. But all is not as it should be – Rose has been transformed into a contagious blood-sucker, endowed with a bizarre, needle-like protrusion in her armpit with which she drains the blood from those unfortunate enough to be in her vicinity."

Jen and Sylvia Soska in American Mary:

Source: Variety
  • Derek Anderson
    About the Author - Derek Anderson

    Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.

    When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.