From Robocop (seen here in a poster by Invisible Predator at Deviant Art), Fright Night, Evil Dead, Carrie and Flatliners to Gremlins Nightmare On Elm Street and (coming soon) The Terminator reboots are fast becoming a staple ingredient of the Hollywood movie diet.
Sometimes these reboots work, JJ Abrams reboot of the Star Trek franchise has been a critical and commercial success but all too often they fail dismally and, particularly for more recent movies such as Spiderman, just aren't needed.Star Trek is an exception to the rule, but why?
Well one big difference is it wasn't a reboot of a movie, it was an update or "reboot" of the original tv series. It stayed true to the original source material and managed to introduce a plot device (time travel) that allows the two star trek universes of old and new trek to co exist in the minds of fans.
Star Trek wasn't a reboot for reboots sake, it was an updating of a decades old tv show that people loved and wanted to see bought back and because it kept true to the original source material it was able to keep Treks original fans while gaining new ones.
So why don't Hollywood try this approach again? Take a good tv series and base a film on it? We list the tv shows that could make great movies.
Captain Scarlet... this classic kids adventure series from the nineteen sixties screams modern movie makeover.
It tells the story of an organisation dedicated to protecting the earth from an alien menace that can resurrect the dead.
The hero, Captain Scarlet, has an array of high tech gadgets at his disposal as he goes head to head with his arch nemesis Captain Black, once his friend and colleague but now controlled by the aliens.
Both men are indestructible, they can die....but they never stay dead.
It has action, suspense, gadgets (from jetpacks and super cool cars to a flying air base defended by an all female fighter squadron known as the angels) , a simple yet classic plot (good versus evil) and best of all for Hollywood the tv series had more than enough original ideas should it warrant a sequel.
Who would play Captain Scarlet? Well Charlie Weber looked the spitting image of him when he starred as Steve Jinks ex boyfriend in sci-fi series Warehouse Thirteen and would certainly look the part. He has the charisma needed, and of course the dark brooding looks required.
He's not a big Hollywood star, at least not yet, but he is a charming good looking and decent actor who could make the role his own.
The story?
Astronauts exploring mars come across a hidden city, they destroy it in self defence but the city rebuilds itself.
An eerie voice emanates through their vehicle warning that earth has declared war on the mysterons and will be destroyed from within.
Unknown to the crew one of them is now under the aliens control. When they return to earth he sabotages a new monorail killing hundreds and kidnaps the president. Former friend Captain Scarlet tries to reason with him but is shot and killed.
Plunging to his death from the top of a building he wakes up to find himself in hospital.
Why is he still alive, why didn't the fall kill him?
He soon discovers that the mysterons can rebuild matter that has been destroyed, and that they have dark plans for him....
The professionals... a quintessential staple of eighties television, and still repeated today, this series followed a secretive law enforcement group known as CI5. Their job was to protect law and order by any means and it was always action packed.
The series focused on two macho friends, one an ex police officer and one ex special forces, and their unorthodox approach to getting the job done.
Aside from the obvious elements needed for a movie (action, heroism, drama and humour, there were always plenty of quick witted one liners quipped between the stars) the series mixed modern concerns such as terrorism and government conspiracies with the classic buddy comedy, the so called "bro-mance" of two close friends willing to risk their lives to do what's right.
Two tough over the top agents tackling terrorists and corruption within their own ranks, eye candy, action adventure and comedy, surely a perfect mix?
Of course a film version would have to be set in the here and now, not the seventies and eighties, and there would be the issue for any director of whether to set the film in the UK as the series did or relocate the action to America for a US audience.
While keeping it in Britain could work, giving it that gritty British feel, the plot is universal enough that in reality it could work just as well in America as it did in Britain. As to who would play the roles of heroes Bodie and Doyle well no doubt Hollywood favourites Jason Statham and Ryan Gosling could do well although given that the characters are ex-police and ex-special forces perhaps a nod to older action stars such as Stallone or Willis would be in order as they could still turn in a good butt kicking yet dramatic performance.
Time for a less obvious choice now.
Last of the summer wine... This quintessentially English comedy about a group of pensioners who refuse to grow old gracefully ran for more than thirty years and would make for a gentle yet zany comedy movie.
It would not only make for a funny endearing movie, perfect for family viewing and those looking for an original heart warming story, and the subject matter gives older established stars a great vehicle.
Keeping it British would be the way to go for this though, appealing to the American stereotype of the "quaint" old English way of life and then tipping it on its head with some great British acting talent of which there is plenty to choose from including the likes of Michael Caine, Helen Mirren, Richard Attenborough, Jim Broadbent and Brian Blessed
Rock Follies... The seventies series charting the ups and downs of a female rock band trying to break into the big time seems tailor made for a musical comedy and could work either set in the nineteen seventies as the series was, or updated to the eighties, a retro comedy with original music and plenty of drama would certainly tick many boxes for mainstream audiences.
Setting it in the present probably wouldn't work as well, all girl groups aren't really uncommon now and wouldn't have some of the same difficulties those in the series faced, placing it in the past allows for catchy seventies or eighties tunes and a "this could have happened" feel that will appeal to the nostalgic as well as fans of musicals, comedies and also music driven movies such as Dirty Dancing and Footloose.
Mother love... This chilling psychological thriller told the twisted tale of a murderous mother with a bitter past that leads to a breakdown of epic proportions when her son meets a new love.
On the surface a young yuppie couple have it all, a doting loving mother and more than enough money and friends. But the mothers shocking past is revealed and her desire for revenge leads creates a malevolent twisted killer that hides her true nature all to well.
This, again, would seem to be an obvious movie to make, harking back to psychological movie classics such as "The hand that rocks the cradle" and "Raising Cain" it is very much character driven so would need a talented cast, but who doesn't enjoy a gripping thriller where the villain is so evil and yet so normal, a great trip into the dark side of the human mind.
The Equalizer... A frankly fun eighties action series The Equalizer told the story of a former secret agent who, after retiring from the business, uses his skills and contacts to help those who had no where else to turn to.
The Equalizer only took on cases where all other avenues of help such as the police had failed, and he never charged. Once finished he simply disappeared from the lives of those he helped.
With an intriguing, mystery shrouded history of his own, and a set of skills most people could never acquire, this would make for a tense thriller or action adventure where the equalizer would take on his first case and, in the process, part of his past would be revealed and tied in to what he was doing.
It also offers the chance for a series of films, perhaps a trilogy, where in each film more of the heroes story is revealed until in the final film he achieves redemption.
An action drama incorporating government agents, a vigilante fighting for justice and a secret history The Equalizer would make for a compelling movie as well as the possibility for a rebooted tv series.
The changes... A classic British tv series The changes tells the story of a teenage girl, Nicky, and how the human race falls apart around her.
All around the country a strange noise emanates from every electrical device on the planet, for an unknown reason the sound causes people to destroy them. At the same time this is happening a series of earthquakes and tidal waves hits.
Society reverts to a pre industrial state, technology is shunned and hated, Nicky gets seperated from her parents. While trying to find them she makes a new friend, John, and the two discover the source of the noise.
Magic mystery and a post apocalyptic tale of a heroine searching for a way to put things right, this BBC series has all the elements needed for a compelling fantasy adventure.
Worzel Gummidge... An endearing tale of a living talking scarecrow, Worzel Gummidge, and his adventures at Scatterbrook farm. This series follows the traditions of popular kids films such as Mary Poppins and Nanny McPhee in featuring a fantastical larger than life character who takes ordinary everyday life and makes it the complete opposite.
This would without a doubt be a great family comedy, a beautiful timeless tale of a scarecrow with interchangeable heads that comes to life, and his love for rag doll Aunt Sally, as he makes friends with two local children who teach him the values of friendship.
Of course to play such a role requires a comedy actor who can naturally twist their faces in all sorts of strange expressions and do a variety of voices, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carrey or Steve Coogan spring immediately to mind with an older actor such as Michael Caine or perhaps John Hurt as the mythical figure of the Crowman, responsible for making Worzel come to life.
UFO... A government organisation that secretly battles an alien race bent on taking over the earth was the subject of this classic seventies series.
In an underground base hidden beneath a film studio the worlds best people wage war against an enemy the public know nothing about, alien invaders. Earths first line of defence is a base on the moon, if anything gets past them the secret organisation known as S.H.A.D.O. use their array of gadgets to intercept it.
Alien invaders, secret agents, drama suspense and plenty of action make this popular series a good contender for a Hollywood movie though it would best be done in the style of the GI Joe films, deliberately over the top, or as a sci-fi comedy in the style of Men In Black.
Wacky Races... Yes the absurdly silly antics of Dastardley, Muttley and co would make for a great slapstick fantasy comedy. The concept is simple, a group of eleven wacky racers compete against each other for the prize of wackiest racer. It's a simple story that provided laughter and wacky mayhem in equal doses for fans of the cartoon series.
It has slapstick humour, wacky inventions and inventors, an army of colourful characters, a notably comic villain (Dastardley) and a doggedly faithful henchman (well hench dog, Muttley) who gives as good as he gets and of course the beautiful heroine Penelope Pitstop. This one practically screams for a live action comedy version.
Gargoyles... Disney abandoned their usually fluffy fare with this surprisingly dark tale about a group of centuries old gargoyles who fight against evil. By day they turn to stone but at night the fearsome powerful warriors are reborn and risk their lives to keep the world safe.
This would make for a very good movie, a brooding monster filled romp in which the very idea of good versus evil could be turned on its head, we expect heroes to look handsome and heroic and here Disney turned that notion on its head and had the "monsters" as the heroes.
With a unique twist on the notion of good versus evil, cool monsters, evil villains and a rich history behind the gargoyles existence this Disney franchise is one they could easily resurrect. Currently a cult classic with some devoted fans this could bring Disney a lot more money and a new army of fans, a live action Gargoyles movie could just be the next big "monster" movie.
MASK... This eighties classic may be a bit to close to GI Joe to be remade but it certainly has all the elements for creating a successful action movie franchise.
A wealthy businessman discovers his brother was killed by a secretive worldwide criminal network known as VENOM, he uses his money and power to create MASK, a group of skilled high tech heroes whose job it is to bring down VENOM once and for all.
Twelve classic tv shows from yesteryear that Hollywood could remake...instead of rebooting films that have themselves, in some cases, already been rebooted.
