Yeah, you read that right. According to Variety, Michael Shannon has been tapped up by the Dowdle Brothers to take on the titular role in a remake called Doctor Caligari’s Cabinet of Wonders. Which is far to close to Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium for my liking.

John Erick Dowdle has gone on record stating:

“Having worked with Michael Shannon on multiple projects, my brother and I have seen firsthand the unnerving intensity he can bring to even the simplest moments. The idea of seeing him play the horrifying Doctor Caligari became an obsession for us. The trust and creative shorthand we’ve built together will allow us to push deeper and bolder as we reimagine this iconic German Expressionist classic for a modern audience. I couldn’t be more excited to bring this nightmare to life with him.”

Look, I rate Michael Shannon as an actor. I really do, but the idea of anyone doing a remake of Robert Wiene’s 1920 masterpiece – a movie that changed how horror could be perceived on film just by use of shadow paintings alone – is just dumb as fuck.

And this line:

“…as we reimagine this iconic German Expressionist classic for a modern audience.”

Well, you just know it’s gonna be stuffed to the brim with the kind of CGI garbage that would make Sharknado blush.

Remakes seldom work, and revamping a classic to try and squeeze a few quid out of movie goes is never a good idea.

Anyone else remember The Haunting?