Leighton Meester, Taran Killam, and Adam Brody will feature in the forthcoming remake of Universal’s 1994 thriller, The River Wild, which has just begun filming in Hungary. Ben Ketai, best known for scripting The Strangers: Prey at Night and StartUp, will helm the next feature. The performers, who previously starred in the television series Single Parents, will return for a second time. With the help of their childhood buddy, Killam and Meester, the siblings embark on a rafting excursion (Brody).
The group’s childhood pal is found to be more deadly than he appears as they go on their quest. Another image has been released by Universal 1440 Entertainment, this one of the three characters dressed in rafting gear standing by the river. Universal 1440 Entertainment Executive Vice President Glenn Ross commented, “We are delighted to introduce an exciting new The River Wild adventure, with fresh characters and a plot that brings the world to new audiences and lovers of the original.” Picture fans are sure to enjoy director Ben Ketai’s contemporary interpretation of a beloved classic film in this production, which has an impressive ensemble.
An adaptation of Curtis Hanson’s 1993 movie about a family on a water-rafting expedition in the outdoors will be made for the new feature. Meryl Streep, Kevin Bacon, David Strathairn, John C. Reilly, Benjamin Bratt, and Joseph Mazzello all appeared in the picture, which won three Academy Awards (Jurassic Park). At the global box office, the thriller was well-received and brought in $94.2 million. Both Meryl Streep and Michael Bacon were nominated for two Golden Globe Awards in the original film, which was directed by Curtis Hanson.
The River Wild, despite its seeming departure from the original picture, has a trio of superb performers at its core who might bring back the same exhilarating thrills that the 1994 film provided. Mike Nguyen Le, who penned Patient Zero, is also a co-writer on Ketai’s next film. The film’s producer will be Ogden Gavanski. On digital and other non-theatrical channels, the film will be released sometime in 2023. No official release date has yet been announced for The River Wild, which is currently in the early phases of development.