Transformers director Michael Bay and his partners at the Platinum Dunes production company have been tasked by New Line Cinema to "relaunch" the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.

Wes Craven’s 1984 slasher classic gave the world the iconic Freddy Krueger, who haunted a total of nine films and two TV series. According to Variety, the new outing will represent a "complete overhaul" of the Nightmare concept.

And just to reinforce the feeling that Hollywood has completely lost the ability to come up with an original concept, Variety adds that Platinum Dunes is "prepping an exorcism thriller" for Rogue Pictures, plus a remake of Near Dark to be directed by music vid vet Samuel Bayer.

Oh yes, and the company's filling its spare time "developing a Universal remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds", in which Casino Royale director Martin Campbell will presumably ensure that slated star Naomi Watts will get plenty of unwanted avian attention. ®

Bootnote

I haven't seen seen Transformers, but I did suffer Pearl Harbor a few years back. I recall thinking it was possibly the worst war flick of all time, and likely among the worst films of any genre, ever, but then I had quaffed a few ales.

Accordingly, I decided to give the film another chance a few weeks ago, while resolutely sober. As the title credits rolled, I cracked open a large bottle of tequila and downed half of it in one shot. Enough said.

Further hot "lights, camera, remake, action!"

• Black hole swallows Barbarella rehash (8 May 2009)
• Hollywood to totally recall Total Recall (27 February 2009)
• Universal thaws out The Thing (29 January 2009)
• Mel Gibson to star in Edge of Darkness (29 April 2008)
• Tarantino plans Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! remake (17 January 2008)
• Warner Bros to remake Clash of the Titans (14 December 2007)
• Warner Bros to remake Enter the Dragon (17 August 2007)
• Sin City director to remake Barbarella (23 May 2007)
• US in The Long Good Friday remake outrage (17 May 2007)