A reboot of the blaxploitation film Blacula is in development from MGM, Bron and Deon and Roxanne Avent Taylor of Hidden Film Empire Group.

Variety first reported this news, and describes the film as “a modern reimagining of the 1972 movie,” picking up “where the original saga left off, after the 1973 sequel Scream Blacula Scream and will be set in a metropolitan city post-coronavirus pandemic.”

The new description reads: Blacula is an ancient African prince who is cursed by Dracula after he fails to agree to end the slave trade. Blacula is entombed and awakens 200 years later ready to avenge the death of his ancestors and of those responsible for robbing his people of their work, culture and heritage as they appropriated it for profit.

Deon Taylor will direct the film from a script written that was co-written by Micah Ranum. Roxanne Avent Taylor is producing the film.

In a statement, Taylor said, “Blacula is arguably one of the most prestigious Black franchises and so important to the culture as it birthed a groundswell of Blaxploitation-horror films, which changed the game for how our people were seen on the big screen. Growing up in Gary, IN, I loved watching ‘Blacula’ and was so proud that Richard Brown was a fellow Gary native. “It’s mind-blowing that this franchise never got the energy or appreciation that other genre films received over the years, but this reboot is about to change all that. Thank you to Aaron, Brenda and team Bron as well as everyone at MGM for joining us on this adventure. We promise to bring new life to the iconic Blacula character that will resonate with audiences worldwide!”

The original film starred William Marshall as 18th century African prince Mamuwalde who gets turned into a vampire and locked into a coffin by Dracula himself. Fast-forward to the ‘70s, and Mamuwalde is released by accident, allowing him to go on a murder/vampire-turning spree before meeting a woman he feels must be the reincarnation of his wife.

Roxanne Avent Taylor

Get relevant content delivered to you once a week