Antony I Ginnane readies remakes of Thirst and The Survivor

Antony I Ginnane, producer of the upcoming remake of Turkey Shoot, which was being promoted at Cannes, is planning to remake two more of his films: Thirst from 1979, and The Survivor from 1981.

Ginnane has credits as either producer or executive producer on 64 films and the first to be remade was director Mark Hartley’s recent Patrick – the original was made in 1978.

“Genre – particularly thrillers, sci-fi and action – never really dates,” said Ginnane, who is aiming to satisfy the 15-25 year old multiplex audience now and those who saw and loved the originals upon release or subsequently.

“Sales agents and international buyers like something that has been previously tested, has cult resonance and is made for a price. In some cases we are selling to the children of the guys who bought the originals.”

Ginnane’s production company, FG Films, gets a rights fee and a producer fee and overhead, so there is an upfront financial benefit. The remakes can also prompt sales of the originals.

Guardian Entertainment International is handling Jon Hewitt’s Turkey Shoot, which was presold to Ster Kinekor for South Africa.

It stars Dominic Purcell and Robert Taylor and is about a disgraced Navy SEAL in a maximum security military prison who is offered the opportunity to take down some of the world’s most ruthless killers in exchange for his freedom. Brian Trenchard-Smith directed the original 1984 film.

Despite Ginnane’s new enthusiasm for remakes, his next three titles – Spontaneous Combustion, The Boss and Manic – are all originals.