I haven’t seen Splash since I was a kid. Does it hold up after all of these years? I have no idea. But it is one of those classic movies of the ‘80s, and – feminist Ghostbusters aside – I’m a little bit tired of classic ‘80s movies being remade. You know where I’m going with this: they’re remaking Splash. Only they’re reversing the genders. Now the dude will play the mermaid/merman and the lady will be the human who falls in love with the sea creature. And they already have a merman in mind: CHANNING TATUM.
Disney is moving forward on a remake of the 1984 film Splash with an interesting twist: Channing Tatum will star as the mermaid character that was played by Daryl Hannah while Jillian Bell will play the character originally played by Tom Hanks. Imagine’s Ron Howard and Brian Grazer will produce along with Tatum, Reid Carolin and Peter Kieran via his Free Association banner. Anna Culp will executive produce.
The 1984 original starred Hanks as a man who as a young boy was saved from drowning by a mermaid (Hannah). The mermaid returns 20 years later and finds the boy she once saved, and gives him the option between his life on land or a life under the sea with her.
Is this feminist or not? I can’t really tell, probably because I haven’t seen the original in so long. In the original, the mermaid gets to be the savior, and she’s already in love with the man. So in the remake, the merman will be the savior, already pining away for the human woman? I don’t know if there is a feminist angle on this, but I do know that Channing will probably be very good in this. Believe it or not, I think he excels at romances and any kind of film with a romantic storyline. He’s becoming one of those leading men who can have chemistry with anyone.
Best Photoshop Ever.
Channing Tatum swims into mermaid role in Disney’s Splash remake: https://t.co/mlzPFnFAl2 pic.twitter.com/lzOwmCmlK0
— Consequence of Sound (@coslive) August 1, 2016
Photos courtesy of WENN.
NO NO NO ENOUGH
I really love him as an actor but I don’t understand any part of this … just so odd. I mean…WHY?
Thank you! Just stahp.
God I HATE when Disney does this sh*t just to sell more of their crap. Despite the fact that Channing Tatum will probably bring it and be positively hilarious ala 21 Jumpstreet, I’m so SICK of the Disney-Borg.
I like the idea. I would watch this. It sounds funny/cute.
I’m assuming this will be pretty heavy on the comedy aspect? I always liked Jillian on Workaholics… and I like Channing best when he’s not being super serious.
I’m going to reserve judgment – re watch the original and see what Charming Potato does with the remake…..
Who Asked For This Sh*t? FORWHY?!
Exactly. Someone’s just scrolling through their catalog of 80s films and is seeing what sticks. Ridiculous.
That’s what it sounds like. This sounds stupid to be honest.
Do you think they were like, ‘they think they can put girls in ghost busters, well lets….lets redo splash and make it a man!!!! That’ll show’em’. Lol JOKES
This doesn’t worry me and I don’t mind channing in light movies. I remember the original and as s little girl I used to think daryl Hannah’s (fake) long hair was amazing because I have buff/fizz hair.
I was thinking it was Tater going through his favorite stuff from childhood. He already redid Save the Last Dance, 21 Jumpstreet, now on to Splash.
Not gonna lie, I will watch anything with Tater in it. He could play all the roles like that Statham commercial and I’d still watch. I am part of the problem.
@ESMOM this exactly! Be creative, make a new, original movie!
All I can think of is Zoolander saying “MerMAN.”
Lol! The first thing I did was shout ‘merMAN dad, MER MAN’ at my phone
Channing as a Mer-man strikes me as pretty sexy so, even though I generally don’t like remakes, I’m open to this one!
Again the question should be asked: Has Hollywood run out of original ideas for movies?
Nostalgia marketing has really taken over Hollywood in recent years, and it’s so utterly lazy and boring. I want to see original, innovative films that keep the art form alive, not these desperate attempts to just cash in on 80’s nostalgia during GenX’s collective midlife crisis.
I believe so.
Yes. YES, they have.
This also had John Candy (!!) and Eugene Levy.
Spoiler plot:
I rewatched this a couple months ago. Hanks is going through breakup, falls off boat, and mermaid saves him, she decides to go on land to return wallet and he takes her home and they do it all over (off screen) and she hides her true identity. Cute dates for strangers in NYC. A mermaid hunter discovers her, and reveals her identity. Hanks is mad/shocked about her lies, and scientists then take her away and put in a little tank for experimenting. Hanks wakes up, and saves her and they both swim into sunset because she can’t stay on land.
Not sure the reverse is feminist, because they both do save each other (eventually), but the Hank’s character still follows the mermaid to sea forever after knowing her only a few days. So the reverse would now see the woman blindly following the merman into the sea forever.
Eh????
I HATED the idea of 21 Jump Street being made- especially with him.
LOVED IT.
I had a conniption fit when I heard they were making a sequel to 21 Jump Street with him.
LOVED IT MORE THAN THE FIRST ONE.
I feel like I need to get worked up about this in order to ensure that it’s fabulous and not jinx it by saying: I’m ok with this, Charming Potato does good things to remakes.
I’m just gonna lay my cards out.
There’s no way I’m NOT seeing this.
Same here. This sounds *awesome* (mostly because it’s Channing Tatum)!
Channing shirtless in what will probably be a funny and cute movie? Sold.
This is going to destroy my childhood.
See how dumb that sounds ghostbuster bros? If it’s good enough for the ghostbusters bros, it’s good enough for me. #I’mnotserious #I’mseriousaboutTatuminswimwear
I would probably see it, tbh. I remember watching the original as a young kid and I enjoyed it, so why not the remake? LOL I DO think remakes are waaaay overdone though. Something new and original would be nice.
Taterhead! I’ve missed you so much! Welcome back.
What’s next, the one where the man falls in love with the mannequin? I forget what it was called. Maybe they will redo that one, but with a male mannequin. Starring……..?
Mannequin is the name of the movie. And no. Stop messing with my childhood.
Lol. Andrew McCarthy classic.
If anyone dares to even think about Say Anything, I will cut a b#$%h. Crap, not to mention Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
I’ll let the remake hacks have Pretty in Pink, though. I made my kids watch it with me not that long ago and I feel like it didn’t hold up as well as I’d expected.
LOL I forgot about that movie!!!
It seems like Hollywood is saying “Let’s see what other classic we can ruin.” Yes, I grew up in the 80’s and I strongly believe in leaving original, good movies alone.
No fins on the Tater!
Omg! They are ruining my childhood memories of Splash. Jk. I only saw it two years ago on cable in the hotel room I was staying. I am a fan of Jillian Bell and I love everything Channing does so I’m in.
He looks like Sebastian Bach’s younger brother in that photoshop.
So are gender reversed remakes of iconic 80s and 90s movies the new hollywood thing?
Remaking these movies at all is a bad idea. The target audience loved these movies as kids and teenagers and we really don’t want them redone. They were either great or awesomely bad the first time around! Leave my childhood alone.
Seriously. The Blues Sisters? I don’t think so. 🙁
This sounds like it would be a funny sketch or short, but a whole movie??
So Manic Pixie Dream Guy instead of Girl? Worth a shot I guess.
I think it will end up taking a feminist bent. What’s cool about this is that Jillian Bell actually pitched the story, and it’s awesome she’s going to be the female love interest. She is a strong character actor so no doubt it’ll be funny, but she also isn’t afraid to hold back… I have a feeling this will be way different than the 80s version. And who doesn’t like to see Channing make a little fun of himself? His self deprecating humor is fantastic!! Also, I keep thinking: “Mer-MAN!”
I’ve never seen or heard about the original, but I love this idea!! He’s hilarious and actually excels at these silly storylines and films, and makes them fun to watch. I’m so gonna see this.
Can someone please feign some outrage that this movie is ruining their childhood, ala female Ghostbusters?
I could watch CT in anything. 🙂 the original movie is a bit corny, but Tom hanks makes it watchable IMO.