Columbia Pictures is set to remake the 1983 action thrillerBlue Thunder, only this time instead of a tricked-out hi-tech helicopter, the story will revolve around a more advanced piece of surveillance weaponry with a state-of-the-art Drone at the center of the action. Marvel Studios executive and writerCraig Kyle(Thor) is updating the screenplay, withFifty Shades of Grey’sDana Brunettiset to produce. The movie will reuniteBrunettiwith Fifty Shades producerMichael De Luca, who is now president of production at Columbia, and will oversee the project.
The Sony-based studio Escape Artists were simultaneously developing their own take on the material, but will now join this remake as a producer. The new version of the story is said to be ‘timely’, as it will explore the exploding use of drone technology in our society, both privately and in government sectors. This is just one of many Drone movies heading our way soon. IFC hasGood Killcoming our way later this year, which starsEthan Hawkeas a troubled Drone pilot. AndEye in the Skyis planned withEnder’s GamedirectorGavin Hood. But Blue Thunder may mark the first Drone thriller from a major studio, which will presumably have a bigger budget then the other upcoming independently produced Drone movies.
Blue Thunderfollowed the pilot of a military-style combat helicopter, which is reconfigured for police use to combat against possible large-scale civil disobedience during the 1984 Olympic Games being held in Los Angeles. The movie also spawned a 1984 TV series that lasted just 11 episodes. It isn’t known how far the new script will stray from this idea, or if the Olympics will once again play a part in the overall storyline. The original movie was directed by John Badham and starredRoy Scheider, Warren Oates, Candy Clark andDaniel Stern.
