Filmmaker J.D. Dillard Discusses How He Would Approach THE FLY Remake

Back in March, it was reported that the latest version of The Fly could come to life on the big screen with J.D. Dillard directing from a screenplay he would write with Alex Theurer, and while that plan is not yet finalized, in a recent interview with /Film, Dillard discussed what he would like to bring to the table (or Telepod) for a remake of The Fly.

While speaking with /Film about his new film Sleight (which he also co-wrote with Theurer), Dillard said that with The Fly or other potential remakes, he and Alex would place character at the top of the priority list above other elements:

"I think if you look at a lot of remakes, and the ones that may have not been as successful as others, I think often times the wrong pieces are remade. Having this conversation about bigger projects and IP, we really want to make sure we are following a beating heart first and foremost."

Dillard also pointed to the new Planet of the Apes movies as the type of remake with an emotional core that he wants to make:

"Anywhere we go it’s coming from that point of view, just that we want the beating heart of the story be our North star. And then action, fun and scale can be piled on, but I’ve started to realize my dream film experience is something with big scale that can also make me cry. And not cry for nostalgia, but to be emotionally moved."

Based on the short story of the same name, The Fly first found the big screen in 1958 (spawning two sequels) and was remade in 1986 by David Cronenberg (a movie that was also followed up by a sequel).

With Dillard and Theurer interested in taking a character-centric approach to this story, it will be interesting to see how intense they would go with the body horror elements should they get the green light. We'll keep Daily Dead readers posted on further developments, and to read more highlights from Dillard's interview, visit /Film.