Just weeks after Jason Clarke signed on to play Louis Creed in Paramount’sPet Sematary, the cast is starting to fill out even more.John Lithgowhas signed on to play Jud Crandall, the neighbor of Louis and his family in this upcoming remake. Production is scheduled to begin this summer, although there is no word on exactly when filming will begin, or exactly where production will take place. While there are still a number of major roles to be filled, the cast is coming together quite nicely.
Like the 1989 movie, this project will beadapted from the 1983 Stephen King novelof the same name, which celebrates its 35th Anniversary later this year. The story follows Louis Creed, his wife Rachel Creed and their kids Gage and Ellie, who move from Chicago to rural Ludlow, Maine, after Louis accepts a position as a doctor at the University of Maine. Louis befriends his neighbor Jud Crandall, who shows him the Pet Sematary in a secluded part of the woods behind the Creed’s new home. After the family cat winds up dead, Louis learns that, beyond the sematary, lies a Micmac burial ground that brings dead animals and people back to life.
The original movie starred Dale Midkiff as Louis Creed, with Fred Gwynne playing Jud Crandal, Denise Crosby as Rachel Creed, Miko Hughes as Gage Creed and Blaze Berdahl as Ellie Creed.Stephen King also wrote the screenplayfor the 1989 adaptation, which was directed by Mary Lambert, with Richard P. Rubenstein producing. The original movie earned $57.4 million in 1989, which, when adjusted for inflation, is the equivalent of a $132.5 million movie today.
Dennis Widmyer and Kevin Kolsch, thefilmmaking teambehind the indie horror-thrillerStarry Eyes, have been set to direct, working from an adapted screenplay by Dave Kajganich (Suspiriaremake), Matt Greenberg (Stephen King’s1408) and Jeff Buhler (Midnight Meat Train). Lorenzo di Bonaventura (Transformers) is producing alongside Mark Vahradian (Bumblebee) and Steven Schneider (Insidious). Paramount has issued anApril 19, 2019 release dateforPet Sematary, one of five movies in wide release that weekend along withPlaymobil,Pengins,Spies in Disguiseand an untitled New Line Cinema horror film.
John Lithgow is coming off his Emmy-winning role as Winston Churchill in Netflix’sThe Crown, which is rather ironic given the Creed family cat which comes back to life is in fact named Church. He also starred on the NBC comedy seriesTrial and Error, which returns for a second season later this year, and he also appeared in two comedy sequels on the big screen last year,Daddy’s Home 2andPitch Perfect 3. He is currently filmingLate Nightwith writer-star Mindy Kaling, Emma Thompson, Amy Ryan, Hugh Dancy and Megalyn Echikunwoke.Entertainment Weeklkyhbroke the casting news regarding John Lithgow joiningPet Semataryearlier today. With filming starting this summer, we should have more casting updates in the near future.
