Kevin Hart Is Threatening To Remake SCROOGED

If you've been reading Birth.Movies.Death. long enough, you'll probably remember me as the guy who always says, "Remakes aren't worth getting mad about." I say this because it's true - remakes don't erase originals, they often bring new viewers to old titles they might not have otherwise sought out, and sometimes you get a really good one. Not often, mind you, just every once in a while, just frequently enough that we can never truly write off the concept. 

I'm going to keep all of that in mind, my jaw furiously clenched, as I relay to you the following:

"Paramount and Kevin Hart have teamed up to develop a remake of Scrooged, the 1988 Christmas comedy that starred Bill Murray and was directed by Richard Donner.

The update is being eyed as a potential acting vehicle for Hart, who will produce via his Hartbeat Productions. A search for a writer to pen the script is underway."

That's The Hollywood Reporter breaking the news that Kevin Hart's developing a Scrooged remake for Paramount. It...they...

Look, I'll just level with you: I'm sitting here trying to put a positive spin on this and I am just failing. Scrooged is a holy work in my household, viewed every year on Christmas Eve and celebrated alongside such other holiday classics as Gremlins and It's A Wonderful Life. The thought of someone remaking Scrooged had never really occurred to me, partially because even considering such a thing feels like heresy, but also because it seemed extremely unlikely that anyone would ever attempt it. Yet another remake of A Christmas Carol? Sure. But specifically a Scrooged remake? Horsefeathers, I would have told you, as recently as twenty minutes ago.

At any rate, this one's still early enough along in the process that nothing's really been established yet: we don't know who's writing it, who might direct it, or (if we're to believe that Hart isn't eyeing it as a starring vehicle for himself, which, I mean, come on) who'll headline it. Good luck to whoever gets involved, I guess. Between Richard Donner, Bill Murray, Michael O'Donoghue and Mitch Glazer, you've got some big-ass shoes to fill.

Now, if you'll excuse me...

Remakes do not erase originals.

Remakes do not erase originals.

Remakes do not