Johnny 5 Remains Alive: That 'Short Circuit' Remake Has a New Writer

Friday, 03 February 2012 09:50 Written by Jordan DeSaulnier

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Johnny 5 Remains Alive: That 'Short Circuit' Remake Has a New Writer

At the end of Short Circuit 2, as newly gold-plated robot Johnny 5 leapt to the freeze-frame ending he so deserved, you probably found yourself thinking, "This robot couldn't get any more goddamn heroic. We've truly reached the end of a full, beautiful character arc, and Johnny 5 is indeed alive. Bravo!" While the 1988 sequel did indeed seem to forever close the door on Johnny 5's maturation as a sentient being, that doesn't mean we can't just start over again with a Short Circuit remake.

Back in August, we learned that Dimension Films had recruited Hop and Alvin and the Chipmunks director Tim Hill to helm a remake of 1986's Short Circuit, in which a highly sophisticated military war machine is struck by lightning, gains sentience, and goes on the run with food truck proprietor Ally Sheedy. Based on Hill's credits, it was natural to surmise that Dimension was looking for a family-friendly film with a CGI creation at its center.

Now, that family-friendly remake has a writer, as Dimension has announced that Matt Lieberman will write the new Short Circuit screenplay, with the project aiming to start production at the end of the year for a release at some point in 2013. Lieberman is a recent graduate of the Disney writers program, and his sole feature credit is 2008's Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief.

Here's the full press release from Dimension:

New York, NY, February 2, 2012 – Dimension Films announced today that they have hired Matt Lieberman to pen their family film SHORT CIRCUIT. Lieberman will work closely with already attached director Tim Hill (HOP, ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS) in the reimagining of the 80s classic. Lieberman is a recent alumni of the Disney writers program. Details of the new take are currently being kept under wraps.

Dimension has had great success with the SPY KIDS family series which grossed over $500 million worldwide,” said Bob Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company (TWC). “We are looking for SHORT CIRCUIT to be our next family franchise and are excited to be working with Matt Lieberman and Tim Hill, who has had great International success with HOP and ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS.”

David Foster, who produced the original, is producing with Ryan E. Heppe, John Hyde and Brian Manis.

Shooting is scheduled for the end of the year with a release in Summer 2013.

The deal was negotiated for Dimension Films by Adrian Lopez, VP of Business and Legal and Matthew Signer, SVP of Production and Creative Affairs; for the filmmakers by Brad Rosenfeld at Preferred Artists and Melissa Rogal at Lichter, Grossman, Nichols, Adler & Feldman, Inc.. Lieberman is represented by Rosenfeld, Rogal and Adam Kolbrenner at Madhouse.

This press release makes me think two things. One: The word "classic" is being seriously misused. Two: There better be cameos for Steve Guttenberg and Fisher Stevens.