Night of the Hunter, The: Charles Laughton’s 1955 Classic, about to be Remade by Horror Craftsmen Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill

March 27, 2024 by

Scott Derrickson, C. Robert Cargill Tackling New Adaptation of Noir Novel ‘The Night of the Hunter’

Universal is behind the adaptation, which comes decades after a 1955 classic film starring Robert Mitchum and Shelley Winters.

Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill
Scott Derrickson (left) and C. Robert Cargill attend the Universal Pictures’ “The Black Phone” Los Angeles premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre on June 21, 2022, in Hollywood. FRAZER HARRISON/GETTY IMAGES
Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill, the team behind horror hits Sinister and The Black Phone, are tackling a bigger challenge.

Universal has tapped Derrickson to direct an adaptation of The Night of the Hunter, the acclaimed 1953 crime novel by Davis Grubb that was previously turned into a 1955 thriller starring Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish.

night of the hunter – Emanuel Levy

Derrickson will write the script with Cargill, his frequent collaborator who also worked with him on Marvel Studios entry Doctor Strange.

Peter Gethers will produce through his KramMar Delicious Mystery Productions, and Amy Pascal will produce through her Pascal Pictures first-look deal with Universal Pictures.

The 1955 movie is a film noir classic and certainly sets a high bar. The movie, directed by Charles Laughton and also starring Shelley Winters and Lillian Gish, was selected for preservation into the United States National Registry in 1992 and has influenced filmmakers ranging from Guillermo del Toro to the Coen brothers.

Derrickson and Cargill are currently working on Black Phone 2, which will reunite stars from the first film, including Ethan Hawke and Mason Thames.

The feature has a June 27, 2025, theatrical release date set.

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