A reimagining of the 1997 movie The Borrowers, based in turn on the 1950 novel, is in development at Universal.
We all know that Hollywood can struggle with the concept of new ideas. If further proof was needed, the news that Universal and Working Title are working on a new version of The Borrowers, will suffice. Originally a series of 1950s novels, the tales about a group of tiny people living in the walls of an English mansion who must ‘borrow’ food and the like to survive was adapted into a feature film in 1997. Jim Broadbent and John Goodman starred with the film scoring scoring a $23m haul at the box office.
Now, according to Deadline, a new version of The Borrowers is in the works, with Patrick Burleigh on script duty.
Burleigh most recently penned the upcoming Marvel film The Eternals. Conrad Vernon is reportedly in negotiations to direct, a clear signal that Universal are taking this project seriously. Vernon’s credits include The Addams Family (2019), Sausage Party, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, Monsters vs. Aliens and Shrek 2 which have grossed over $2b combined at the box-office.
There have also been other incarnations of The Borrowers over the years, including a TV movie in 2011 that starred Christopher Eccleston and Stephen Fry, as well as an early 90s BBC TV series. This version looks like being the highest-profile adaptation yet however, and we’ll bring you more updates on this project as we hear them.
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