Creature From the Black Lagoon Remake Eying James Wan to Direct

James Wan is in talks to direct a Creature from the Black Lagoon remake.

The original Creature from the Black Lagoon movie was released in 1954. The black-and-white movie distributed by Universal-International was directed by Jack Arnold and starred Richard Carlson, Julia Adams, Richard Denning, and more.

While Creature from the Black Lagoon was followed by two sequels (1955’s Revenge of the Creature and 1965’s The Creature Walks Among Us), there have since been numerous failed attempts to remake the iconic monster flick.

Now, per The Hollywood Reporter, Wan is in “early talks” to direct a new Creature from the Black Lagoon movie.

What do we know about James Wan’s Creature from the Black Lagoon?

Wan and his collaborators reportedly presented Universal with a pitch as to how to remake the 1954 film. A writer has not yet been assigned to the project, which will be produced by Wan. Michael Clear and Judson Scott will serve as executive producers.

“Wan’s take is described as being a grounded, modernized retelling that will lean into visceral horror, while still paying respect to the original,” The Hollywood Reporter’s article notes.

A description of the 1954 film reads, “Remnants of a mysterious animal have come to light in a remote jungle, and a group of scientists intends to determine if the find is an anomaly or evidence of an undiscovered beast. To accomplish their goal, the scientists must brave the most perilous pieces of land South America has to offer. But the terrain is nothing compared to the danger posed by an otherworldly being that endangers their work and their lives.”

Wan is known for directing 2004’s Saw, 2007’s Dead Silence, 2010’s Insidious, 2013’s The Conjuring, 2013’s Insidious: Chapter 2, 2015’s Furious 7, 2016’s The Conjuring 2, 2018’s Aquaman, 2021’s Malignant, and 2023’s Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.

Brandon Schreur

Brandon Schreur has been writing about comics, movies, television shows, and all things pop culture for roughly five years. He's a lifelong cinephile who spends way, way too much money buying Blu-rays and trade paperbacks. You can find him on twitter at @brandonschreur.