Stephen King Classic FIRESTARTER Getting Remake Treatment

Oscar winning screenwriter-turned-filmmaker Akiva Goldsman (‘Cinderella Man,’ ‘A Beautiful Mind’) is to take the director’s chair for a remake of the Stephen King classic ‘Firestarter.’

Originally published in 1980, King’s bone-chilling novel tells the story of a young girl named Charlie McGee who was born with pyrokinetic powers. Now a secret government agency called The Shop is trying to capture young Charlie and harness her powerful firestarting skills as a weapon.

The book was previously adapted to the big screen in 1984 by Mark L. Lester with a cast that featured Drew Barrymore, David Keith, Martin Sheen, and George C. Scott. It spawned a 2002 TV movie ‘Firestarter 2: Rekindled’ starring Marguerite Moreau, Malcolm McDowell and Dennis Hopper.

Producer Jason Blum and his micro-budget banner Blumhouse Productions are backing the project. Martha de Laurentiis, who along with her late husband Dino De Laurentiis, was involved with the 1984 version, will serve as executive producer.