Sony Pictures and Blumhouse Productions have announced a release date for their new film adaptation of ‘Fantasy Island’. You won’t need to take “Ze plane, ze plane” to get to your local cineplex on February 28, 2020. Based on the ABC drama, which ran from 1977-84, the film will be directed by Blumhouse alum Jeff Wadlow and it will reunite him with his ‘Truth or Dare’ star Lucy Hale. Michael Peña headlines the cast as Mister Roarke, the role originated by Ricardo Montalban on the original series.
The plot involves a mysterious resort where wealthy visitors can live out the greatest fantasy for the right price. Hale’s character, Melanie, is among these guests, along with Jimmy O. Yang (‘Crazy Rich Asians’), Portia Doubleday (‘Mr. Robot’), Maggie Q (‘Designated Survivor’), and Ryan Hansen (‘Ray Hansen Solves Crimes on Television’). Of these cast members, only Yang’s character is known. He plays Brax, the younger of two brothers who visit the island to live out their fantasy of “having it all.” It should be noted, that these answered prayers always come with a twist, and considering that this is a Blumhouse picture, those twists may turn out to be pretty gruesome. There were rumblings that Dave Bautista was in talks to join the cast, but it doesn’t seem like things worked out for his inclusion.
Peña, it should be noted, is also attached to appear in Blumhouse’s ‘Dora the Explorer’ live action film.
The most memorable part of the original ‘Fantasy Island’ was Hervé Villechaize as Mr. Roarke’s assistant Tattoo. Unfortunately, it appears that the film script by Wadlow, Chris Roach and Jillian Jacobs, has dropped him. Peter Dinklage recently portrayed Villechaize in the acclaimed HBO original movie, ‘My Dinner with Hervé’ which chronicled his tumultuous life including during the height of his ‘Fantasy Island’ fame.
You can book your visit to ‘Fantasy Island’ on February 28, 2020.
Source: Variety
