​The Witches Remake Will Be Set In 1969 And Have A Whole New Plot

The Witches may have been one of the most terrifying kids' film ever made, but if there's one thing we love, it's scaring ourselves shitless - so when we heard news of a remake, it was like music to our fear-hungry little ears.

Based on a 1973 novel, the original 1990 film followed a seven-year-old boy who stumbles upon a coven of child-hating witches he must stop - even though he's been turned into a mouse. I know, it's so annoying when that happens.

The remake is being directed by Robert Zemeckis, the bloke behind classics like the Back To The Future franchise and Forrest Gump, and will reportedly star Anne Hathaway as the Grand High Witch.

But we've also learnt the remake will be set in the 1960s - specifically, according to Geeks Worldwide, 1969, which was the year that saw a man land on the moon for the first time, the Beatles make their final public performance and the debut of the jumbo jet. A pretty big year then.

Speaking to Allocine, Zemickis also explained it would be set in the 'Gothic' American South, saying: "We're going to set it in the Gothic South in the 1960s and that's an exciting way to put a sociological spin on this kind of traditional witch story. So it's kind of an exciting idea."

via GIPHY

Some of the cast will also be doing motion capture for their scenes - something that Zemickis has done before with films like The Polar Express.

Sources close to the project also say Zemeckis' version will be more rooted in the original source material than the 1990 film, which saw Anjelica Huston nailing the role of the Grand High Witch.

The film's synopsis reads: "When his parents are killed, a young boy goes to live with his feisty, loving grandma, who had a terrifying encounter with witches when she was just a girl. When Grandma realizes that the witches have returned, she flees with the Boy to the swankiest resort in the South - only to realize that they've wandered right into a nest of witches, headed by the Grand High Witch, who intends to transform the world's children into mice - starting with the Boy..."

That famously terrifying scene where Huston's witch removes her wig and mask will surely only improve with the fancy CGI and gadgetry of 2019. Another classic frightfest is upon us, it seems.

Topics: Film, Entertainment, TV and Film

Jess Hardiman

Jess is a journalist at LADbible who graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics - indecisiveness at its finest, right there. She also works for FOODbible and its sister page Seitanists, which are both a safe haven for her to channel a love for homemade pasta, fennel and everything else in between. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

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