Mimic Reboot: Paul W.S. Anderson & Miramax TV adapting sci-fi film into series
It has been 23 years since the theatrical release of Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro’s sci-fi thriller film Mimic, and now Deadline is bringing word that Miramax Television is in the process of developing a series reboot of the 1997 cult classic. Resident Evil director Paul W.S. Anderson has officially signed on to direct the first episode of the series.
“The world of insects has been a long-term fascination of mine,” Anderson said in a statement. “So much strength and organization from such tiny creatures that have existed long before humankind and will survive long after our demise. It’s an exciting world that I’m thrilled to jump into, especially with such great partners as Jim and Miramax.”
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Based on a short story written by Donald A. Wollheim, Mimic revolves around genetically engineered insects who evolve, developing the ability to mimic their human prey, and the race to stop them from taking over.
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“Miramax TV couldn’t be more thrilled to be in business with Paul Anderson, Jeremy Bolt and Jim Danger Gray on Mimic,” Miramax’s Head of Worldwide Television Marc Helwig said. “Paul is one of the leading filmmakers of his generation in the world of science fiction, and we are excited to bring a bold new take on this classic title to life in television that will make your skin crawl, scare the hell out of you and speak loudly to these strange times we all find ourselves in. I couldn’t think of a better writer to bring this world to life than Jim Danger Gray, whose work I’ve admired for a long time.”
The original film was directed by del Toro from a script he co-wrote with Matthew Robins. Starring Mira Sorvino, Josh Brolin, Jeremy Northam and Norman Reedus, the centered around an entomologist named Dr. Susan Tyler, who uses genetic engineering to create a new breed of large insects called Judas. This was done in order to stop the spreading of Strickler’s disease that had already claimed the lives of hundreds of children in New York City. Even though project was a success, they’ve underestimated the specimens’ ability to evolve.They now found themselves in a much bigger problem than a disease, when they’ve learned that the insects have already grown into a colony after three years underneath the city.
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“Mimic explores, on its surface, the idea of insects taking over,” Jim Danger Gray said. “Body horror, the anxiety of ‘a bug’ living inside of us, the death of truth, the denial of science and the rise of personal entitlement are at the heart of our show as it examines how society is eaten alive by an invasion that is laying bare its greatest insecurities and failures.”
The Mimic reboot series will be written and executive produced by Jim Danger Gray (Hannibal), who is also set as the showrunner. Anderson will also be executive producing along with long-time collaborator Jeremy Bolt. Should the project push through, this will be Anderson and Bolt’s first major TV series which Miramax TV is planning to shop to networks or streamers.
Mimic was originally intended to be one of three segments for a sci-fi anthology film entitled Alien Love Triangle until Miramax decided to expand both del Toro’s Mimic and Gary Fleder’s Imposter into feature length. The third short segment (also titled Alien Love Triangle) was directed by Danny Boyle and starred Kenneth Branagh, and was never expanded or formally released. Two direct-to-video Mimic sequels were made without del Toro’s involvement: Mimic 2 (2001) and Mimic 3: Sentinel (2003). Mimic was famously taken away from its director in post-production by The Weinsteins, but after del Toro’s success with Pan’s Labyrinth he went back and re-edited the film and released it as Mimic: The Director’s Cut in 2011.
