Horror legend Joe Dante is back to delight genre fans of a new generation as Deadline confirms that Dante is returning with a long-awaited follow-up to the Roger Corman-helmed horror comedy The Little Shop of Horrors. The project is titled Little Shop of Halloween Horrors, which Charles S. Haas will pen. Corman and Brad Krevoy are co-producing the upcoming film, which is “intended to jumpstart a new franchise.”
The original story for Little Shop of Horror sees “Meek flower shop assistant Seymour pines for co-worker Audrey. During a total eclipse, he discovers an unusual plant called Audrey II, which feeds only on human flesh and blood. The growing plant attracts great business for the previously struggling store. After Seymour feeds Audrey’s boyfriend, Orin, to the plant after Orin’s accidental death, he must come up with more bodies for the increasingly bloodthirsty plant.”
Starting as a low-budget genre flick directed by Corman and co-starring a young Jack Nicholson, the film found new life as a 1982 off-Broadway musical adaptation, with music by Alan Menken. Most famously, Frank Oz directed the 1986 musical horror comedy that starred Rick Moranis, Steve Martin, Jim Belushi, John Candy, Christopher Guest, and Bill Murray. The film was nominated for two Oscars in the Best Original Song and Visual Effects categories.
Dante’s credits include Piranha, The Howling, Gremlins, Innerspace, The ‘Burbs and Small Soldiers, and his last feature came in 2014 with Burying the Ex. There’s no release date for Little Shop of Halloween Horrors.
