A reboot of Urban Legend is in the works.

Screen Gems has announced that it is developing a reboot of the 1998 slasher film Urban Legend, a project designed to revisit and potentially revitalize a franchise that had a significant impact on the horror genre during the late '90s. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the new iteration will be penned by Shanrah Wakefield, known for her previous work on Killer in Red, and produced by Gary Dauberman, whose notable credits include horror hits like It and Annabelle. Neal Moritz, the producer of the original film, is also in negotiations to return for this new project. The original Urban Legend film, directed by Jamie Blanks and written by Silvio Horta, revolved around a series of murders on a college campus inspired by popular urban legends. Despite receiving dismal reviews—holding a 30% critic score and 37% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes—the film was financially successful, grossing over $72 million against a mere $14 million budget. This success prompted two sequels, though none captured the initial film's success. The reboot aims to examine contemporary urban legends in a 'post-digital world,' suggesting a possible shift in focus towards how digital communication and internet culture reshape these traditional stories. Interestingly, while the original film leaned heavily into the 'whodunit' trope, the new version may inspire a fresh view on narratives, possibly incorporating more speculative tales influenced by online content like 'creepypasta.' In the current landscape, with reboots of beloved properties like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer gaining traction, Urban Legend's revival aligns with industry trends favoring nostalgia-laden reimplementations. Though anticipation for the project awaits more specifics—such as a director and casting—it nevertheless raises questions regarding the necessity and potential effectiveness of reviving a story already deemed lackluster by critics. In summary, the Urban Legend reboot seems positioned at an interesting intersection; it has the chance to breathe new life into a nostalgic but largely underappreciated film while engaging with modern themes relevant in today's digital age. The producer's history with supernatural tales adds an intriguing twist, suggesting either a continuation of existing themes or a radical departure into new territory—opening up discussions about what 'urban legends' mean today in a fast-paced digital environment.