Scott Derrickson To Remake A Darker ‘Night Of The Hunter’ With ‘Doctor Strange’ Writer

Director Scott Derrickson, known for his work on “The Black Phone,” is embarking on a unique journey with his remake of the classic noir film “The Night of The Hunter.” This adaptation of the original 1953 novel by David Grubbs promises a much darker tone than the 1955 Charles Laughton-directed movie. The news, reported by Deadline, also reveals that Derrickson’s longtime creative writing partner, C. Robert Cargill (“Doctor Strange”), is joining him in this creative endeavor.

“Night of The Hunter” centers on the chilling character of Harry Powell, a seedy pretender who masquerades as a preacher but is, in fact, a serial killer. This role, initially portrayed by Robert Mitchum, is a testament to the dark depths of human nature. Powell’s sinister plot unfolds as he marries a widow (played by Shelley Winters) with two children solely to gain access to her deceased husband’s hidden fortune. His stepchildren, John and Pearl, become the new targets of his relentless pursuit as he seeks the money hidden by their late father.

READ MORE: ‘The Black Phone 2’: Ethan Hawke, Mason Thames, Jeremy Davies & More Returning For Scott Derrickson’s Sequel Arriving In 2025

Derrickson and Cargill had previously worked together on the horror films “The Black Phone” and “Sinister,” along with the first installment of Marvel’s “Doctor Strange” franchise (the pair were tasked with tackling the sequel before Sam Raimi and Michael Waldron took over duties). “Night of The Hunter” wouldn’t be the filmmaker’s first remake of a classic film either, as he helmed the sci-fi film “The Day The Earth Stood Still” for 20th Century Fox, which starred Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly.

Cargill took to Twitter to reiterate their aim for a darker tone for the remake.

Here’s the logline of the Grubbs novel via Amazon:

Two young children, Pearl and John Harper, are being raised alone by their mother in Cresap’s Landing, Ohio. Their father, Ben, has just been executed for killing two men in the course of an armed robbery. Ben never told anyone where he hid the ten thousand dollars he stole; not his widow Willa, not his lawyer, nor his cell-mate Henry “Preacher” Powell. But Preacher, with his long history of charming his way into widows’ hearts and lives, has an inkling that Ben’s money could be within his reach. As soon as he is free, Preacher makes his way up the river to visit the Harper family, where he hopes a little child will lead him to the fortune that he seeks.

We’ll keep our fingers crossed that Derrickson and Universal will consider casting Ethan Hawke for Harry Powell after delivering a creepy performance in “The Black Phone” for Derrickson and returning for a sequel, which should arrive next year.

For those unfamiliar, NIGHT OF THE HUNTER was based on a novel that was *MUCH DARKER* than the 1950s would allow. Very excited about this project and thrilled we can finally talk about it.

— C. Robert Cargill (@Massawyrm) March 26, 2024