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Posted: **Wed Jul 25, 2007 3:53 pm**

I had this post laid out differently originally, but figured this might be more interesting.

There are rumors that they're remaking The Thing again. No other details than that.

So, if they follow the formula for the second version rather than the first, who plays MacReady?

The list of possibilities (IMHO):
Kurt Russell - He's older, but I'd argue it was his best performance ever.

Will Smith - He's proving he can do any role, but I don't think he's dark enough to pull this off, but let's see how he does in I Am Legend.

Christian Bale - He's got the look, but maybe not the name if they go the "big release" route, which I would assume they'll go since The Thing is a huge cult hit that really found its audience after it left the theaters.

Bruce Willis - This one actually fits quite nicely. Bruce is on the downside of his adventure career and could easily play a "washed up" chopper pilot stuck at some science station in Antarctica. He might bring too much baggage though. Willis is more cool bad ass than brooding loner.

Jason Statham - Same as Bale. He could pull it off, although they'd need to make it an English station. Still, he might not have the name value.

Dwayne Johnson - I think he could pull it off, but it'd be a harder sell. Dwayne is a bit more of a pretty boy and has good comedic timing. Things not needed for MacReady.

Gerard Butler - He might get my vote. He's got the whole beard thing down, he can act, be intense, and has a new legion of fans due to 300. I'd throw a few names into the cast to generate a bit more interest though.

Have I missed anyone who could pull this off?

Posted: **Wed Jul 25, 2007 4:53 pm**

It'll probably be a woman.

Posted: **Wed Jul 25, 2007 6:18 pm**

I think the word of a remake of The Thing is the first remake that sounds like an actual crime, to me.

There's no way they'll approach the awesomeness of the Kurt Russel version. Some of the special effects are dated, but the majority hold up. All male crew, and they filmed on an actual glacier. Great vibe. And that dog... the one in the beginning that brought the alien into their midst... they actually lucked out and got a creepy-ass dog. n Next time you watch the movie, pay attention to that dog... notice how it walks with a purpose, doesn't blink, doesn't get distracted. Watch it enter the kennel and keep staring straight ahead, not looking at the other dogs, and then just lay down still as a statue.

Watch the DVD with the commentary on, then you'll notice how when MacReady used a flame thrower, all the other casts step back because that's really Kurt Russel with a flame thrower and they don't trust him.

I can't imagine how they can improve on this. At best just Lucas it up and update some of the claymation with CGI.

There will be a woman on the crew and they will be sampling ice cores and lamenting how man-made global arming is screwing up the environment. Trust me.

Posted: **Wed Jul 25, 2007 8:27 pm**

I think the Halloween remake is the first crime.

There will be a woman on the crew and they will be sampling ice cores and lamenting how man-made global arming is screwing up the environment. Trust me.

Yeah, Hollywood Script Writing 101 says that there will be a love interest because "that will make the movie marketable to women" and as I've said before, that's been Hollywood's big and constant mistake. Stop trying to make movies that appeal to everyone because it's impossible.

Oh, and don't forget the joke cracking best friend that just happens to be the opposite race of the male lead.

Edited By Leisher on 1185409636

Posted: **Wed Jul 25, 2007 9:34 pm**

No, the first crime remake was The Omen.

I don't think you can classify a remake of The Thing as a crime since the one we like was actually a remake itself.

Posted: **Sun Jun 02, 2013 1:46 am**

GORDON wrote:I think the word of a remake of The Thing is the first remake that sounds like an actual crime, to me.

There's no way they'll approach the awesomeness of the Kurt Russel version. Some of the special effects are dated, but the majority hold up. All male crew, and they filmed on an actual glacier. Great vibe. And that dog... the one in the beginning that brought the alien into their midst... they actually lucked out and got a creepy-ass dog. n Next time you watch the movie, pay attention to that dog... notice how it walks with a purpose, doesn't blink, doesn't get distracted. Watch it enter the kennel and keep staring straight ahead, not looking at the other dogs, and then just lay down still as a statue.

Watch the DVD with the commentary on, then you'll notice how when MacReady used a flame thrower, all the other casts step back because that's really Kurt Russel with a flame thrower and they don't trust him.

I can't imagine how they can improve on this. At best just Lucas it up and update some of the claymation with CGI.

There will be a woman on the crew and they will be sampling ice cores and lamenting how man-made global arming is screwing up the environment. Trust me.

Found this old thread when looking to see if we had a The Thing thread for the John Carpenter version.

It's funny because we had this thread before we had a The Thing 2 thread when it was officially released... we were just speculating.

I called "lead will be a woman."

Anyway, the comment I wanted to make about Carpenter's The Thing is: I just watched my Blu Ray of this movie for the first time. It is so crisp and clear that I never, ever noticed that Doc had a nose ring, before. The guy who got his wrists bitten off when applying electric shocks to the heart attack guy. Old man. Had a nose ring. In an 80's movie. Just weird, and weird to notice it only after about 100 viewings.

Edited By GORDON on 1370152011