Looks like Katie, er sorry Tom, KATE has signed on to do the remake of Guillermo del Toro’s version of “Don’t Be Afraid Of  The Dark.”. Guillermo is probably best known for directing such films as the Hellboy series and the Spanish language film, Pan’s Labyrinth. I happened to catch Pan’s Labyrinth when it came out in 2006 and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

The original Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark was a made for TV movie back in 1973 and starred Kim Darby, Jim Hutton, and William Demarest (Uncle Charlie from “My Three Sons”. The movie was about a young girl who moves in with her father and his girlfriend and discovers they are sharing the house with devilish creatures.  Hmm…would this movie really be so much of a stretch for Katie? I mean Tommboy is a pretty devilish creature to say the least, and I am being kind.

Everyone I have talked to who remembers the original movie, has said that it freaked them out back then and it still scares them today. It’s just one of those movies that happened to really stick with people. With today’s technology and special effects, coupled with Guillermo del Toro’s dark and quirky style, this may prove to be quite the shocker.  But we have to question whether picking Katie for this part was the right choice?

Variety sez:

Del Toro is producing with Mark Johnson and the film will be directed by del Toro protege Troy Nixey.

The film will shoot this summer in Melbourne as a “Guillermo del Toro Presentation.”

“Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” is based on a 1973 ABC telepic about a young girl who moves in with her father and his girlfriend and discovers they are sharing the house with devilish creatures.

Nixey, a comicbook artist, is making his feature directing debut. Del Toro sparked to “Latchkey’s Lament,” a Nixey-directed short that captured the tone del Toro wanted for “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark.”

From the NY Post Pop Wrap:

I like Katie Holmes movies. I like Guillermo del Toro movies. I like horror movies. So it’s with a Cheshire grin that I announce Katie Holmes has just signed on to star in a Guillermo del Toro scripted horror movie.

The project is “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark,” a title that’s as counter intuitive as it is overused. But Guillermo gets a free pass on that one since the film is adapted from an ABC TV movie from 1973.

It’s unclear how true to the original this new version will skew, but in that film, a young girl moves into a new house with her father and his girlfriend. Once there, the trio discover they are sharing the house with devilish creatures who want to make the wife one of their own!

Kudos to Katie for not shying away from a script that many could see as a thinly veiled comment on her personal life. I mean, a movie about a woman who an alien race wants to brainwash? Yeah, that’s soooo not about Scientology!

I would have to agree. The movie premise does reflect some of her Scientology beliefs, the brainwashing that Scientology uses on its members and she does have an awful strange living situation. So maybe this movie part will fit her like a glove, as far as it being ironic that is.  But as far as it being a big hit?  Ehh..  maybe not so much.

For one, I don’t for see this movie being supported by any Scientology critics, which seems to be growing in numbers with fervor daily. And as ironic as the part is in its story line, I tend to think she has been type cast as first the sweet girl next door, and then as a nutty wife of a cultie. This may hurt the box office in the long run. I wonder if Guillermo or Miramax Films had taken all that into account, when he signed Katie on? It’s doubtful. Maybe he owes Tommyboy a favor? Or Tommboy will owe him a favor down the line?

I for one will not be standing in any movie line soon for this one (nor will I go to see her latest movie either) I refuse to contribute any money towards the Cult of Scientology via Katie’s paycheck. As much as I like Guillermo’s style, I will have to pass. 

Source: Queen