Exclusive: New Season Tomatoes?

I've always thought that if you're going to remake some old genre film, it's best to remake one that exists down the bottom rungs of the ladder, even (or maybe especially) if it's got a cult following. With remakes or sequels of B-flicks such as Attack of the Giant Leeches, The Horror of Party Beach, Fiend Without A Face, The Killer Screws [see the just announced Return of the Killer Shrews], The Swarm and Kingdom of the Spiders either recently made or announced as in production, surely the time is right for a remake of one of the most ludicrous franchises ever:

Yes, it's Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (US-1978; dir. John DeBello), which was followed ten years later by Return of the Killer Tomatoes (US-1988; dir. John DeBello):

... and then, as if those weren't enough, Killer Tomatoes Strike Back! (1990) and Killer Tomatoes Eat France! (1991), both still directed by Mr DeBello. On top of that there was an animated TV series, assorted video games, comic books, toys, merchandise and endless tomato-sauce splattered hilarity.

Pursuing previous information that suggested that John DeBello and 'Ask A Ninja' were intent on doing a remake, Kaiju Search-Robot Avery hunted the parties down and got confirmation that DeBello and 'Ask A Ninja' were no longer collaborating on this project and that the Ninjas were no longer attached to it. Undeterred, Avery asked DeBello if plans for a remake of his most famous classic were still on the cards.

Here is DeBello's reply:

No updates that I can share at the moment, Avery, but stay tuned ... I guess if they can remake The Horror of Party Beach, then Killer Tomatoes should be a lock, eh? Alas, even vicious veggies fall victim to the vagaries of Hollywood deal making. (Are the Coen Brothers busy?) Anything is possible with Killer Tomatoes ... while a remake remains a tantalizing possibility, to paraphrase William Goldman: "Ya Never Know".

What would be his preferred options for the film if it happened?

My personal preference is a $300 million 3D version helmed by James Cameron, with me receiving a $20 million consulting fee and a brief cameo, but I always wake up from that dream just as I'm cashing the check.

Seriously, the Hollywood route is probably most appealing, if for no other reason than that it'd be fun to see a big-budget remake of a no-budget indie ... sort of fits the Killer Tomato dynamic of infinite absurdity. But again...

Ya Never Know.

I'll be sure to keep you posted if/when the Vicious Veggies roll again.

So, you heard it here first. There might be a big budget remake -- and if you'd like to mis-read what we wrote and spread the word that James Cameron will be helming it, feel free to do so. Might make it happen.

• Source: John DeBello via Avery Guerra. Written by Robert Hood.