Quick Links
Summary
The classic 1990s disaster filmBackdraftis getting a modern remake, and the new take on the Oscar-nominee already has Glen Powell attached to the cast. Released in 1991,Backdraftstars William Baldwin and Kurt Russell as a pair of competitive brothers who work as firefighters and must team up to crack the case of a deadly arsonist. With its slick production and big-budget appeal,Backdraftwas one of the key movies in the 1990s disaster revival and even scored Academy Award nominations for Sound Effects Editing, Sound, and Visual Effects.
ThoughBackdraftdidn’t accurately portray fires and fire investigation, the movie still managed to deliver compelling and extravagant scenes of disaster that elevated the summer blockbuster of the burgeoning ’90s decade.William Baldwin reprised his role in an oft-forgotten 2019 sequel,Backdraft 2, but the would-be franchise has largely faded into the background of ’90s nostalgia. However, with legacy sequels and modern remakes all the rage,Backdraftis set to make a comeback in the 2020s. Though little is known about the remake ofBackdraft, it has plenty of potential, especially with modern improvements in filmmaking since 1991.
The 10 Highest-Grossing Movies Of The 1990s
The 1990s is a decade filled with great films, changing the landscape for Hollywood today. These 10 were the most successful at the box office.
The Backdraft Remake Is Confirmed
The Project Was Announced In June 2024
Grazer slyly teased several upcoming projects, not the least of which is a remake ofBackdraftwith Glen Powell attached.
With movies likeTop Gun: MaverickandTwistersproving that legacy sequels and reboots of ’80s and ’90s movies are consistent money-makers,aBackdraftremake has been announced. The news was broken by Oscar-winning producer Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind) during an interview withCNBCwhere he divulged his thoughts on the current state of the film and TV industry. During the talk, Grazer slyly teased several upcoming projects, not the least of which is a remake ofBackdraftwith Glen Powell attached.
Read Grazer’s comments here:
Imagine [Entertainment] has always played in that zone where there is that chance, high probability of chance, that it [a movie] will be successful in a movie theater. It’s great for us because we’ve built, over 30 years, over 100 different products – brands. Whether it’s Backdraft which I’m now going to do today with Glen Powell, or whether it’s 24, a movie that we’re going to do in a very interesting way with Disney-Fox.
These formats of the late 90s, early 2000s have become very important because the streamers, or studios, are right now even more risk-averse. They like brands that are already established that people have a high level of awareness to, where you actually add a new twist, or really interesting casting, which is of course what we’re doing with ours. We’re doing something with Sidney Sweeny which I’m very excited about. We’re doing something with Scarlett Johansson, also very excited about that. I mentioned Glen Powell with Backdraft.
Though the news is exciting,little is currently known about the remake at this juncture, and it isn’t clear where the project stands. For his part,Glen Powell has yet to confirm his involvement in the remake, though his reputation inmovies likeTop Gun: MaverickandTwistersmake him a prime target to carry the re-do. Grazer’s Imagine Entertainment is presumably overseeing the film.
The Backdraft Remake Cast Details
Glen Powell Is Attached To The Cast
With the remake ofBackdraftin such a primordial state, almost nothing is known about the cast, crew, or story. However, when producer Brian Grazer did reveal the remake was in development, he mentioned thatAnyone But Youstar Glen Powell was attached.It’s unclear if Powell will be playing the lead role, or even what roles are available for him to play. However, if Powell does end up in the remake,he has a proven track-record of elevating remakes and reboots.
It’s unknown if any original stars can or will return for the remake.
73%
Purchase or rent on Amazon Prime & Apple TV.
40%
It’s unclear if the remake will be straightforward, or if the movie will go for a soft reboot approach that preserves the original story while exploring new characters. If the remake is more literal, it will follow a pair of firefighting siblings who always butt heads. However, when a deadly arsonist strikes, they must combine their strengths to stop the perpetrator.It’s highly likely that the remake will borrow the basic framework of the 1991 film while adding new elementsto spice things up. Modern technology could make theBackdraftremake even bigger than its Oscar-nominated predecessor.
Backdraft
Cast
Backdraft is a 1991 action thriller directed by Ron Howard, focusing on the lives of Chicago firefighters. The film stars Kurt Russell and William Baldwin as two brothers who must overcome their differences while investigating a series of arson attacks. Featuring Robert De Niro as an arson investigator, the narrative dives deep into the dangers firefighters face and the complexities of familial relationships within the fire department.
