What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? remake in the works

A scene from the 1962 film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Photo / Supplied

A remake of silver screen classic What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is in the pipeline, it has been announced.

Deadline reports that director Walter Hill (The Warriors, 48 Hrs, Bullet to the Head) has entered into a partnership agreement with the Aldrich Company to create a new version of the 1962 psychological thriller.

The original, directed by Robert Aldrich, featured rival screen legends Bette Davis and Joan Crawford portray dysfunctional, co-dependent sisters Jane and Blanche, who live in isolation in a crumbling Hollywood mansion.

No word on casting for the two female leads who were played so sublimely by Davis and Crawford, although Hill has implied that he'll be looking for heavyweight actors.

"The two equal leads demand great performers - that is a given," Hill said in press release.

"The intensity of the gothic storyline makes a reconfiguration of the drama still a potentially searing experience. The idea is to make a modern film without modernising the period. It needs to resonate the golden age of Hollywood."

Adell Aldrich, daughter of the late Robert Aldrich, will also share producing credit on the remake.

"I am greatly honoured that Walter Hill will be joining us in the collaboration of this film," she said in the same release. "I know that he will respect the material and the legacy of this terrific project."

Baby Jane was also interpreted for the small screen in 1991, starring real-life sisters Lynn Redgrave as Baby Jane Hudson and Vanessa Redgrave as Blanche Hudson.

As for suggestions on who should play the sisters...

My money's on Meryl Streep and Glenn Close. What about Maggie Smith and Judi Dench? Or if they're on a tight budget and the girls are too busy, Madonna and Courtney Love.

Check out a trailer for What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? here.

- Blogger Bites Back