Last month, we reported that theManiac Copremake is gearing up to start production next spring, withJohn Hyams(Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning) set to direct and filmmakerNicolas Winding Refnon board as a producer. While we still have several months before filming will begin,Bloody-Disgustingspotted the first sales artwork for theremakeat the American Film Market in Santa Monica, California. There are no cast members attached so far, but the poster teases the gritty look that the filmmakers intend to deliver.
The originalManiac Copis set in New York City, following a string of grisly murders that eyewitnesses say were committed by a cop.Tom Atkinsplays Frank McCrae, who heads up the investigation that eventually points to a young police officer named Jack Forrest (Bruce Campbell), who was set up by the real killer and a mysterious woman. Both Frank and Jack, along with Jack’s girlfriend Theresa (Laurene Landon) team up to find this killer before he strikes again. The late Robert Z’Dar played the title character, a cop who was brought back from the dead and killed anyone seeking his help.
It isn’t known ifTom Atkins,Bruce Campbell, Laurene Landon or other supporting cast members such asRichard Roundtreeand William Smith will be involved in the remake or not. The film only earned $671,382 at thebox officeduring its theatrical release, but it went on to become a cult classic. It spawned the sequels Maniac Cop 2 in 1990 and Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence in 1993.
John Hyamsis directing from a screenplay by Ed Brubaker, withNicolas Winding Refnproducing alongside William Lustig, who directed all three original Maniac Cop movies. The remake is budgeted between $5 million and $6 million, and will shoot for 25 days in New York City sometime next spring.Maniac Copdoesn’t have a distributor lined up at this time, but we’ll keep you posted if a studio picks up this project.
John Hyamsmost recently directed nine episodes of the Syfy series Z Nation, and he also directed the straight-to-video sequels Universal Soldier: Regeneration andUniversal Soldier: Day of Reckoning. It isn’t known if casting has begun onManiac Copat this time, but we’ll keep you posted as we get closer to production starting next year in the Big Apple. In the meantime, take a look at thisManiac Copartwork below, and let us know what you think.
