Legendary 80s slasher film Sleepaway Camp is getting a remake from Kenan Thompson, but fans are begging for it to be ‘left alone.’
The Saturday Night Live icon and producer Johnny Ryan Jr have reportedly acquired the rights to the 1983 slasher, according to Deadline.
Original director and writer, Robert Hiltzik, is also attached to the project.
Starring Mike Kellin, Katherine Kamhi, Paul DeAngelo, Jonathan Tiersten, Felissa Rose, Christopher Collet, and Karen Fields, Sleepaway Camp follows a group of teens at a summer camp who are preyed upon by a mysterious killer.
It proved a box office success, spawning four sequels, with the most recent, Sleepaway Camp IV: The Survivor, being released in 2012.
Speaking in a statement to Deadline Ryan Jr said they are ‘staying true to the OG story’, but there will be ‘some insane new twists.’
He continued: ‘Kenan and I always say we’re fans first, and this couldn’t be more on brand for us. I’ve been obsessed with the Sleepaway Camp franchise since I was a kid.
‘We’ve wanted this title for 20 years, and we’re over the moon Robert came back to write it.’
Hiltzik additionally told the publication: ‘I am both thrilled and humbled to be working with AFA on the reimagined Sleepaway Camp.
‘Though I have been approached by several companies regarding the remake of Sleepaway Camp, only AFA has shared my vision and is excited to have me helm the film, therefore preserving the integrity of the original film for the fans, as well as introducing Sleepaway Camp to a whole new generation. Be prepared for a new member of the Sleepaway Camp family.’
Thompson said: ‘Excited to work with the original genius Robert and bring back to life a camp classic!’
Fans, however, aren’t convinced the classic slasher will translate for modern audiences, particularly due to its divisive representation of transgender character Angela Baker (Rose), and the fact that she was not played by a trans actor.
‘It won’t work now. It will either be considered too woke or anti trans,’ Brandy Canan wrote on X.
Rob E Rush added: ‘Speaking on behalf of the lgbtq community this is a fail 😭.’
Dgalaxy said: ‘I feel like you couldn’t do this type of movie again in today’s climate so I am very curious to see how it goes. Hopefully the og Angela makes an appearance as a cameo.’
‘M’m not sure how they’ll manage to outdo the original, especially with that unforgettable infamous ending,’ Madmanmarz wrote.
Horror Hooligan said: ‘Does he know what he is doing? Does he really know what he is getting himself into? This movie should never be remade. It is perfect especially for the time.’
‘Some movies need never be touched. Just saying,’ Happierthanyou wrote, while many felt the film is ‘too transphobic’ to air in cinemas.
Others said the announcement had them ‘jumping with excitement’ and that the film deserved to be reinvigorated for a new set of viewers decades on.
TnHorrorFan reasoned: ‘Always been on the opinion of stop doing remakes of movies and do more original content. However, getting the original writer-director has me pause and rethink that for this one.’
‘I am a sucker for 80 slashers so hell yeah 🙌 i am excited to see how this one turns out!,’ Jspears007 added.
Speaking to Den Of Geek in 2014, Hiltzik revealed that Sleepaway Camp’s final reveal was never intended purely for shock value.
‘Well, you know, the way I wrote the film was I came up with a beginning and I came up with the end,’ he said.
‘I wanted a good beginning to grab the audience right away and then hold onto them, then I wanted a shocking ending or a twist that they would talk about when they walked out of the movie theatre.’
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