Sam Raimi Gives Update On ‘Darkman’ Remake

Liam Neeson up against a brick wall with fear in a scene from the film 'Darkman', 1990. (Photo by Universal Pictures/Getty Images)

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Darkman filmmakers Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert are still trying to get the ball rolling on a remake of their 1990 superhero film classic.

Raimi and Tapert are the producers of the new horror thriller Evil Dead Burn, which is the sixth film in the Evil Dead franchise. The original version of The Evil Dead — directed by Raimi, produced by Tapert and starring Bruce Campbell — was released 1981.

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In between the making of 1987’s Evil Dead II and 1992’s Army of Darkness, Raimi directed and Tapert produced Darkman, a dark superhero tale starring Liam Neeson and Frances McDormand.

Neeson plays Peyton Westlake, a scientist developing synthetic skin for burn victims. However, when thugs from crime boss Robert G. Durant (Larry Drake) torture Westlake and blow up his lab, the scientist — who is irrevocably disfigured— is transferred as a John Doe victim to a hospital.

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There, Westlake undergoes an experimental procedure in which his nerve endings are severed to alleviate the pain from his severe burns— a procedure that also triggers his body to give him heightened senses and superhuman strength. In the aftermath, Westlake uses his technology to create lifelike masks to disguise himself as he seeks revenge on the criminals who nearly destroyed him.

McDormand stars as Westlake’s girlfriend, attorney Julie Hastings, while Campbell and Sam Raimi’s younger brother, Ted Raimi, each appear in cameo roles. Additionally, Sam Raimi and his older brother, Ivan Raimi, were among the co-writers of the screenplay.

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Sam Raimi Says They Are Still Seeking Financing For The ‘Darkman’ Remake

During the Zoom conversation with Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert to chat Evil Dead Burn, Raimi confirmed earlier reports that Adam Schindler and Brian Netto — who directed the Netflix global hit thriller Don’t Move — were hired to direct a remake of Darkman. Raimi produced the film, which marked his second collaboration with the director duo.

“They’re great filmmakers. We made Don’t Move together and a short [the 50 States of Fright Minnesota segment Grey Cloud Island] before that,” Raimi enthused. “And now Rob and I are bringing them to bear on one of the favorite projects we’ve ever made.”

And Darkman is a favorite of Schindler and Netto’s, too. The filmmakers told The Hollywood Reporter after Don’t Move was released in 2024 that a Darkman remake was a dream project for them and that they brought it up with Raimi.

“We talked about Darkman [with him]. We’ve got a love and an affinity for Darkman,” Schindler told THR, while Netto added, “Darkman was my favorite film for a good portion of my life. It was the movie, so Darkman would be really interesting.”

While Raimi and Tapert made 1990’s Darkman with Universal Pictures, the duo hit a snag with the studio when they approached them about financing a remake.

“Right now, we don’t have a plan to get the financing. Universal wouldn’t give us financing for this, so we’re going to have to get creative now,” Raimi said. “In fact, I’m about to call Rob this week to talk about alternate sources of financing. It’s been difficult getting [the remake] made. We’ve tried a few times, but it never seems to sell with Universal.”

Despite the setbacks, Raimi is hopeful the Darkman remake will get made.

Scripted by Schindler and Netto’s frequent collaborators T.J. Cimfel and David White, Don’t Move is streaming exclusively on Netflix.

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