As revealed by Variety, Universal Pictures is in development on a remake of the classic 1955 thriller The Night of the Hunter.
The remake is being described as a contemporary version of the story, which follows a religious fanatic, con man and murderer who sets out to charm a grieving widow and get his hands on $10,000 in stolen cash hidden by her deceased husband.
Based on the 1953 novel of the same name by Davis Grubb, The Night of the Hunter was directed by Charles Laughton, and starred Robert Mitchum as the sinister Reverend Harry Powell alongside Shelley Winters and Lillian Gish. It initially received a mixed response from audiences and critics but has since become widely regarded as one of the greatest thrillers ever made.
Matt Orton (Operation Finale) has been hired to write the script for the remake, which is being produced by Amy Pascal and Peter Gethers.
