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Russell Brand Set for Drop Dead Fred

Source:  The Hollywood Reporter
Universal is developing a remake of Drop Dead Fred, as a starring vehicle for Russell Brand.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dennis McNicholas, who is one of the writers of Universal's upcoming Land of the Lost, will pen the remake.

The 1991 original starred Phoebe Cates as a wallflower who loses her job and husband during the course of a lunch hour. Forced to live back home, she's reunited with her childhood imaginary friend (Brit actor Rik Mayall), who promises to help but causes more havoc.

Produced by PolyGram and Working Title, the first "Fred" was a critical flop and commercially unsuccessful, however it did achieve a certain cult status and is considered a film that fell short of its full potential.

The take for the new "Fred" is to make a film in the tone of Beetlejuice, building a universe around the concept of imaginary friends. Brand would play the trouble-making pal.

No production date has been set.


18 Comments


April 28th, 2009 8:07pm
I like Russell Brand, but the idea of a remake doesn't sound good.
  (Delete)
April 28th, 2009 7:08pm
The only good casting choice I've heard for this fool was that he was going to play Captain Jack Sparrow's brother in "Pirates of the Caribbean 4," but sadly that turned out to be bullshit. Then they said he'd replace Dudley Moore (R.I.P.) for an "Arthur" remake. Now this. The man needs to take a hint.
  (Delete)
April 28th, 2009 9:14am
i love the original..
  (Delete)
April 28th, 2009 7:42am
I love Russell Brand, but I get the feeling that Brits are getting tired of him, so he's going to start pandering to the American market with things like this.
  (Delete)
April 28th, 2009 7:30am
Wow. I really wish hollywood would would read message boards like this once in awhile. I mean, maybe then they would see that these ideas are terrible and people are very against them.
  (Delete)
April 28th, 2009 7:08am
wow how gay is this
  (Delete)
April 28th, 2009 6:04am
God damn it! I agree with all of you who are upset by all these remakes!
  (Delete)
April 28th, 2009 5:41am
hmm.
drop dead fred... well movies like this arent made for folks like me anyway they are made for 12 year olds so i dont really have an opinion on this.
i remember liking the original when i was real little but i bet if i tried to watch it now it would make me throw up in my hands.
  (Delete)
April 28th, 2009 5:34am
WTF! Can anyone make an original film or come up with something new these days?
  (Delete)
April 28th, 2009 5:26am
Dear Mr Osama Bin Laden

Please bring horror and suffering to Hollywood.
  (Delete)
April 28th, 2009 4:19am
Why a remake? And, why cast this fucking queer mother fucker???
  (Delete)
April 28th, 2009 3:43am
the best idea this film could is to use a different imaginary friend as the lead played by brand! it isnt needed for a remake just to use a different story from the same universe!!! this way we get a new story fred still exists as fred and everyone is happy.
fred could even cameo in it, if him and brand have a history this could make for some funny scenes.
  (Delete)
April 28th, 2009 3:35am
son of a #$%%^&$#%^$%$^$^$^
  (Delete)
April 28th, 2009 1:54am
STOP BUTCHERING CLASSIC FILMS, GROW A FUCKING BRAIN AND COME UP WITH AN IDEA, GOD GAVE YOU WISDOM, AND THIS IS WHAT YOU DO WITH IT, RIP OF A CLASSIC AND TURN IT INTO YOUR OWN. STOP FUCKING WITH CLASSIC'S AND MAKE YOUR OWN.
  (Delete)
April 28th, 2009 1:48am
is hollywood smoking crack im sick of these remakes
i thought the original was great brand is funny but he aint no fred
  (Delete)
April 28th, 2009 1:31am
I know its weird, no one could do it as well as rick. he was brilliant. as for the movie itself, one of my favorites "Oh grandma bunt" LMFAO!!! but i dont think russel is right for this, but if done right it could be very good anyway, as long as its a 15
  (Delete)
April 28th, 2009 12:08am
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FUCK THIS WORLD!!!!!!!!!!! FUCK YOU RUSSELL BRAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FUCK YOU DENNIS MCNICHOLAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FUCK YOU UNIVERSAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  (Delete)
April 28th, 2009 12:07am
This film is one of my favorite films of all time and NOW THEY HAVE TO REMAKE IT WITH Russell "Vote for Barack Obama" Brand!?!?

I'm going to start boycotting.
  (Delete)

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