Syfy may be planning a return to Waterworld, as either a big screen remake or an ongoing television series. Forbes has the story, saying that the network has been attempting to negotiate rights to the property from Universal Pictures and that a deal is closer than ever to going through.
Released in 1995, the Kevin Reynolds film starred Kevin Costner, Dennis Hopper and Jeanne Tripplehorn as survivors of a post-apocalyptic Earth wherein the polar caps have completely melted, flooding the entire planet. The Mariner (Costner) winds up becoming involved in a fight for the life of a young orphan girl whose tattooed back may hold the secret to the legendary Dryland.
Although the film was famously a box office disaster, Syfy would plan their own version with a diminished budget, either as a part of its plans for ongoing theatrical releases or as an ongoing television series, similar to what was done with the Stargate franchise.
Waterworld had a budget of $175 million and was the most expensive film ever made at the time, also costing an additional $60 million to market and distribute. The movie earned $88 million at the domestic box office and $176 million overseas for a worldwide total of $264 million.
