The cult classic ‘80s slasher Sleepaway Camp is set to receive a fresh remake 42 years after its original release. Often compared to Friday the 13th for its shared summer camp setting, the low-budget horror outing from writer and director Robert Hiltzik would eventually go on to spawn four sequels over the course of the next four decades.

Per ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, Kenan Thompson’s and Johnny Ryan Jr.’s production company, AFA, has picked up the rights for a Sleepaway Camp remake, with original director Hiltzik set to helm the project. A statement from the returning director reveals that while many companies have sought the rights to reboot the property, only AFA supported his vision. Check out his comments below:

I am both thrilled and humbled to be working with AFA on the reimagined Sleepaway Camp. Though I have been approached by several companies regarding the remake of Sleepaway Camp, only AFA has shared my vision and is excited to have me helm the film, therefore preserving the integrity of the original film for the fans, as well as introducing Sleepaway Camp to a whole new generation. Be prepared for a new member of the Sleepaway Camp family.

What The Sleepaway Camp Reboot Means For The Horror Classic

Despite being largely dismissed by critics at the time of its original release, the original Sleepaway Camp managed to pull in over $11 million in box office taking against its original $350,000 budget and would later attain a cult following on its subsequent home video release.

Much of the reason for the movie’s enduring appeal lies in Sleepaway Camp’s shocking twist ending, something that AFA’s Ryan Jr. has intimated the remake will build upon. Admitting that he and Thompson were both fans of the original, the producer has suggested that Hiltzik will be including fresh surprises in the new remake, while remaining faithful to the original tale:

I’ve been obsessed with the Sleepaway Camp franchise since I was a kid. We’ve wanted this тιтle for 20 years, and we’re over the moon Robert came back to write it. We’re staying true to the OG story while Robert adding in some insane new twists, we’re going crazy with the merch too!

Meanwhile, the timing of the Sleepaway Camp remake comes at an opportune time, given the recent resurgence in both interest in the slasher genre, and, in particular, the forthcoming return to the Friday the 13th franchise via the Crystal Lake prequel series.

Our Take On Sleepaway Camp’s New Remake

Rebooting beloved 80s horror classics is not always an instant recipe for success, and many attempts at remaking far more well-known franchises have stumbled in their bid to reproduce the appeal of the originals. What is perhaps most interesting in this case, however, is the direct involvement of the original Sleepaway Camp creator.

Whether Hiltzik will succeed in introducing his beloved slasher outing to a whole new generation of horror fans remains to be seen, but the Sleepaway Camp remake probably has a greater chance of success in his hands, as opposed to having a new director come in to force an entirely different vision over the top of the existing property.

Source: ᴅᴇᴀᴅline