Gremlins Creator Picks up Trollhunter Remake Rights

Opening today at New York’s Village East Cinemas and in other cities next week, André Øvredal’s Trollhunter, the Norwegian found footage thriller, has made waves on the film festival circuit going back to last year’s Fantastic Fest. When ShockTillYouDrop.com spoke to the filmmaker last month, he told them there were many U.S. production houses looking to remake the movie, and now, according to Deadline, those rights have been picked up by Chris Columbus’ 1492 Pictures and CJ Entertainment & Media.

Marc Haimes will write the script for the remake of the movie that purports to be footage found from a documentary being made by a group of students who are tracking a mysterious hunter who they learn is ridding the countryside of giant rogue trolls.

Columbus, who first made his name by writing the movie Gremlins and later went on to direct the first two “Harry Potter” movies (including the first one in which someone actually yells “Troll!” much like in Trollhunter), will produce the film with 1492’s Michael Barnathan and Mark Radcliffe and CJ Entertainment. Original producers John M. Jacobsen and Sveinung Golimo will also be involved.

Columbus told Deadline why he was interested in the project:

“Troll Hunter was a visceral, thrilling cinematic rock and roller coaster ride of a movie. Visually, there are scenes in this film that American audiences have never seen. We want to introduce an International audience to this amazing moviegoing experience!”

Meanwhile, the original Trollhunter is now playing on Video on Demand, and you can find out when it’s opening theatrically in your city here.