We know that it's not going to be out in time for the 25th anniversary of the original "Tremors", in fact it's going to be over a year before we get to see Burt Gummer return to our screens. "Look for Tremors 5 on Blu-ray, DVD & Digital HD in 2016" is all the post says in regards to a release date. It's kind of refreshing, I was dreading they were going to rush the film, but it's apparent that they'll want to spend at least some time on it as it is currently shooting in South Africa under the direction of Don Michael Paul.
Michael Gross is not the only person to star in this film, yet again he's treated to a new co-lead. The not-unknown Jamie Kennedy ("Ghost Whisperer", "The Jamie Kennedy Experiment") is set to co-star in the refresh of the "Tremors" franchise. If the picture below is anything to go by he is a member of some kind of military or militia, possible hired to hunt the graboids down before the local government brought in Burt Gummer for his expertise. He certainly looks like someone Burt might have trouble trusting.
According to the press release below Jamie Kennedy's character is called Travis, and he is described as being tech-savvy. What his exact part entails is still undetermined, but Burt Gummer hasn't shied from technology in the past, he's rather embraced it to further improve his hunting.
I wouldn't be too surprised if they Universal wants Jamie Kennedy to be the new face of this franchise as Michael Gross slowly is aging out of his part as Burt Gummer. The fact that the film is set to release a year after the 25th anniversary means this is not just to make a quick buck off of the fans' nostalgia, but a play to get the franchise back to life. No matter what happens we should just be glad that Universal is taking an interest in the "Tremors" franchise again.
Here's a better picture of Michael Gross as Burt Gummer in "Tremors 5".
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| Picture with journalist Martin Parsons |
Update:
The full press release follows:
Universal Pictures Home Entertainment: Tremors 5
ADVENTURE INSPIRED BY THE CULT CLASSIC
TREMORS 5
ORIGINAL TREMORS STAR MICHAEL GROSS RETURNS ALONGSIDE NEWEST CO-STAR JAMIE KENNEDY COMING TO BLU-RAY™, DVD AND DIGITAL HD IN 2016 FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT
The fifth heart-pounding installment in the action-packed sci-fi comedy-adventure franchise, Tremors 5 began principal photography in South Africa on September 22, 2014. With even more deadly creatures on the loose, Tremors 5 continues the films’ hallmark combination of adrenaline-laced suspense, explosive action and tongue-in-cheek humor. Michael Gross returns for his fifth appearance in the Tremors films alongside new cast member, Scream film series star Jamie Kennedy in this original release from Universal 1440 Entertainment, a production entity of Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Tremors 5 will be released on Blu-Ray™ Hi-Def, DVD and Digital HD in 2016.
The theatrical release of the original Tremors in 1990 combined suspense-filled action, sci-fi imagination and witty humor in the tale of a tiny Nevada town terrorized by giant man-eating worms known as Graboids. The Graboids eventually morphed into even more deadly creatures known as Ass Blasters. In this all-new adventure that travels halfway around the world to South Africa, the Graboids and the Ass Blasters are not only bigger and badder but Tremors 5 introduces an additional unexpected surprise that raises the stakes in the battle for survival.
“The Tremors franchise has built a reputation for high intensity fun and suspense and this installment takes it to a whole new level,” said Glenn Ross, General Manager and Executive Vice President, Universal 1440 Entertainment.
Michael Gross (“Anger Management,” “Suits,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Family Ties,” Tremors franchise) returns as weapons enthusiast and expert subterranean creature hunter Burt Gummer with Jamie Kennedy (“The Cleveland Show,” “Ghost Whisperer,” Scream series) as his new right hand man, tech-savvy Travis. The pair are joined by an international cast as they mount a battle against the deadly creatures that turns out to be far more than they bargained for.
The film is directed by Don Michael Paul (Jarhead 2: Field of Fire, Sniper: Legacy) from a script by John Whelpley (Tremors 3: Back to Perfection, TV’s “Dallas”) and produced by Ogden Gavanski (The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Fire, Warm Bodies).
There is no mention of Stampede Entertainment, the production company behind all the other installments of the "Tremors" franchise. And it seems that the new script is different enough from the already existing script by Wilson and Maddock that they are comfortable to say it's written by one John Whelpley. Hopefully we'll get some more news on the details surrounding Stampede Entertainment as time goes on.
If you want to read more posts on "Tremors 5" leading up to today, click here. And if you feel like discussing this news, or the franchise in general, with other like-minded people, try out Tremors Underground. A fan board that is still active to this day. You can also try the official forums of Stampede Entertainment, but it's almost as good as dead these days.
It'll be interesting to see what they do with the franchise without the original creative team, Tremors films aren't just regular monster flicks but have a unique tone that's hard to capture. Still, great to see Gross back as Gummer!
ReplyDeleteI agree. I don't think it's guaranteed to be bad just because Stampede isn't onboard, but as you say, they did do something rather special with the films and TV series.
DeleteI'm actually rather excited to see Jamie Kennedy in the film.