Richard Matheson’s Classic “The Shrinking Man” Getting a Modern Adaptation; Carolyn Hart

Richard Matheson’s Classic “The Shrinking Man” Getting a Modernized Film Adaptation

Ed here: We can only hope for the best. Given the modest budget and the state of special effects the original was a memorable, powerful movie about loneliness and our place in the universe (to Matheson it was also in its way about God). I just hope the remake honors the dignity and pure storytelling pleasure of the original. Richard Matheson was attached to the remake which was the most hopeful sign of all. But now with Richard gone I hope his son, also attached, can convince the money people not to turn it into a special effects circus.

From SF Signal

Richard Matheson’s 1956 novel The Shrinking Man is no stranger to the big screen. In 1957, Matheson adapted it for the big screen as The Incredible Shrinking Man, a film that starred Grant Williams, Randy Stuart and was directed by Jack Arnold. In was about a man who, exposed to radiation, slowly began to shrink in size — a metaphor for how man’s place in the world was diminishing. In 1981, the story was radically rewritten as an uninspiring topical pro-environment comedy called The Incredible Shrinking Woman which starred Lily Tomlin.

It may hit theaters again.

According to Hollywood Reporter, Matheson (along with his son Richard Matheson Jr.) has been tapped by MGM for a modern remake. Reportedly, the tone of the original story will remain the same, but it will be updated to be more modern. For one thing, that means swapping out the radiation trigger for nanotechnology. The remake is being described as “an existential action movie”.

FROM CAROLYN HART

Dear Ed,

      I wanted to share with you this exceedingly happy moment. Escape from Paris is the #6 book in the Summer Library Book Club Picks from Random House.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/147603050/Random-House-Book-Group-Brochure-Volume-6#.UcmW0Dvqm5I