Holy Hammer! Three Favorites Reimagined by Legendary Movie Studio

I wonder if Simon Oakes -- Hammer Films' CEO -- feels any pressure about creating a modern brand for the newly revamped movie studio? Hammer fans can be a rabid bunch and rightfully so -- the studio dates back to 1934 and has delivered some of the most iconic films in horror movie history. There is a lot at stake with Hammers' latest efforts, including The Resident starring Hilary Swank, a remake of The Woman in Black, Let Me In which will be hitting theaters this October and David Keating's The Wake Wood. Now the studio is upping the ante by taking on three huge tasks -- the reimaginings of three Hammer favorites: Captain Kronos, Quatermass and Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde.

The boys at Bloody-Disgusting recently spoke to Oakes who revealed that the studio doesn't plan on remaking anything. Oakes explains further:

"You know, one of the first questions I was asked when we bought the company was, 'Are you gonna remake all of those old Hammer films?' And I said, 'Well, why would you do that?' Because in a sense they almost were of their time. They sort of almost became old-fashioned as they came up to the end of that period of time when they were making those pictures. Because at the same time that Dracula A.D. was being made, The Omen was being made. And think about that difference in terms of style [between the old Hammer films]...and the "urban myth" movies." [find out what else Oakes has to say after the jump!]

Oakes goes on to discuss ideas for the reimaginings -- focusing mainly on a new Quatermass movie, which he clearly has a nerdy affection for. The original film (The Quatermass Xperiment) revolves around an astronaut who becomes infected during flight and transforms into an alien organism which will destroy humanity if Professor Bernard Quatermass and the gang can't stop it. Hammer produced two sequels -- Quatermass 2 and Quatermass and the Pit -- all of which were seminal British sci-fi/horror films and proved to be a huge influence on future filmmakers. Personally, I dig the BBC Television serial more than the films. It's far more gripping and has a bunch of sinister, sci-fi, mystical stuff wedged into it -- but I'd love to see how Oakes remasters the movie version.

Visit Bloody-Disgusting for the full interview details and don't forget to check out my review of Dr. Jekyll and Sister Hyde. Hammer fans -- speak up! What do you make of all this business?