'Point Break' Remake Officially Happening

By now movie fans have become accustomed to films from the 1980s getting the remake treatment. However, Hollywood, in its never-ending quest for profitable titles to cash in on, has started working on films from the 1990s. The latest film up on the remake chopping block is 1991 action classic "Point Break." The film is considered by many to be among the best action movies of the last few decades. Alcon Entertainment has issued an official press release announcing the project is not only alive but is being fast-tracked.

The press release reveals the story is going to remain largely unchanged. In the original film, Keanu Reeves played a young FBI agent who was working undercover with a group of criminals, led by Patrick Swayze. The bond the two men form causes Reeves' character to experience personal conflicts as the inevitable bust draws closer. The original had the criminals engage in such activities as surfing and sky diving; the new film looks to maintain this angle, or at least something close to it.

The press release states that the new take is "set in the world of international extreme sports," which certainly fits the mold of the original. It is interesting that the "extreme sports" aren't clarified, especially since that term now covers a much broader range of activities than it did in 1991. Since the release makes a point of using the word "international," this may become more of a location-hopping adventure which would allow for the incorporation of a greater number of extreme sports, such as mountain climbing or snowboarding.

"Point Break" is a bit of an odd choice for a remake for a few reasons. The biggest one is that it's not particularly dated as far as how the action scenes are done. In fact, action fans hail it as one of the modern classics of the genre for its engaging action and also for embracing an over-the-top, testosterone-fueled feel.

The original has also seen a resurgence of interest in recent years due to a number of factors. Director Kathryn Bigelow winning an Oscar and the passing of star Patrick Swayze both caused movie buffs to revisit the film. It has also been referenced heavily in recent action films like "Hot Fuzz."

The new "Point Break" is being produced by Michael DeLuca, John Baldecchi, Chris Taylor, and Kurt Wimmer, who also wrote the script for the project. Wimmer has been responsible for scripting recent action films such as "Law Abiding Citizen" and "Salt." Warner Bros. will be releasing the film, though a planned release date has not yet been set. The project will next be sent out to various directors and from there will go into casting. Announcements regarding these hires should be coming in the next few weeks and months.

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