Darren Aronofsky is circling Netflix‘s “Cujo,” a remake of Stephen King’s horror novel about a bloodthirsty St. Bernard.
“Cujo” remains in early stages of development and Aronofsky has yet to have a creative meeting with Netflix, according to sources familiar with the project. Should the deal close, the film would mark Aronofsky’s first feature for a streaming service.
Although occasionally courted by Hollywood (he was an early contender to reboot “Batman” before Christopher Nolan took over), Aronofsky has mostly stayed true to his indie roots. The filmmaker has directed such films as psychological drama “Requiem for a Dream,” psychological thriller “Black Swan,” psychological horror allegory “Mother!” and psychological case study “The Whale.” He’s currently putting the finishing touches on Sony’s “Caught Stealing,” a crime drama with Austin Butler and Zoe Kravitz that opens in theaters this August.
Roy Lee (“Barbarian”) will produce the “Cujo” reboot, which was announced earlier in March and has yet to attach a writer or actors. King’s 1981 book about a mother and son who get trapped in their car while protecting themselves from a rabid dog was first adapted for the screen in the 1983. That film, directed by Lewis Teague and starring Dee Wallace, Daniel Hugh Kelly and Danny Pintauro, earned $21 million worldwide (not adjusted for inflation) against a $6 million budget.
King’s novels, in genres ranging from horror and sci-fi to crime and fantasy, have been rich material for Hollywood, with films such as “Carrie,” “The Shining,” “Shawshank Redemption,” “Stand By Me,” “It” and the sequel “It: Chapter Two.”
Hollywood newsletter the InSneider first reported the news of Aronofsky’s involvement.
