Apr 28, 2009 by Courtney O.

Russell Brand Set for Drop Dead Fred

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.


Sources: The Hollywood Reporter

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Comments (18)

  1. spideykea

    I like Russell Brand, but the idea of a remake doesn't sound good.

    3 years agoby @spideykeaFlag

  2. Vamp

    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 bullsh*t. Then they said he'd replace Dudley Moore (R.I.P.) for an "Arthur" remake. Now this. The man needs to take a hint.

    3 years agoby @vampire2000Flag

  3. dillonyewjew

    i love the original..

    3 years agoby @dillonyewjewFlag

  4. -comrade-

    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.

    3 years agoby @taberjohnson18Flag

  5. Moviemaniack1993

    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.

    3 years agoby @moviemaniack1993Flag

  6. killahmovieisbak

    wow how gay is this

    3 years agoby @killahmovieisbakFlag

  7. DarkTower19

    God damn it! I agree with all of you who are upset by all these remakes!

    3 years agoby @darktower19Flag

  8. Err

    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.

    3 years agoby @err2005Flag

  9. nathan_lease

    WTF! Can anyone make an original film or come up with something new these days?

    3 years agoby @nathan-leaseFlag

  10. Love & Napalm

    Dear Mr Osama Bin Laden

    Please bring horror and suffering to Hollywood.

    3 years agoby @zomb13Flag

  11. PypeBomb

    Why a remake? And, why cast this f*cking queer mother f*cker???

    3 years agoby @pypebombFlag

  12. Everton

    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.

    3 years agoby @macca-paul-87Flag

  13. Roguemiroku

    son of a #$%%^&$#%^$%$^$^$^

    3 years agoby @roguemirokuFlag

  14. Remy72883

    STOP BUTCHERING CLASSIC FILMS, GROW A F*CKING 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 F*CKING WITH CLASSIC'S AND MAKE YOUR OWN.

    3 years agoby @remy72883Flag

  15. Ps2fatboy

    is hollywood smoking crack im sick of these remakes
    i thought the original was great brand is funny but he aint no fred

    3 years agoby @ps2fatboyFlag

  16. Tomp1210

    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

    3 years agoby @tomp1210Flag

  17. Raoul Duke

    F*CK F*CK F*CK F*CK F*CK F*CK F*CK F*CK F*CK F*CK F*CK F*CK F*CK F*CK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! F*CK THIS WORLD!!!!!!!!!!! F*CK YOU RUSSELL BRAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! F*CK YOU DENNIS MCNICHOLAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!F*CK YOU UNIVERSAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!F*CK F*CK F*CK F*CK F*CK F*CK F*CK F*CK F*CK F*CK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    3 years agoby @raoulduke33Flag

  18. Soylent Green:The Devil's Eyes

    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.

    3 years agoby @jcisawesomeFlag

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