Back in March, we reported that a reboot of the 1990 sci-fi thrillerFlatlinersis gearing up to start filming this summer, withEllen Page,Diego LunaandNina Dobrevattached to star. It was never clear if the filmmakers had planned on reaching out to original cast members such asKiefer Sutherland,Julia RobertsandKevin Bacon, but today we have word thatKiefer Sutherlandis closing his deal to co-star in the rebooted thriller. The deal isn’t finalized yet, but the actor has committed to the project.
The original film followed a group of medical students and close friends who conduct experiments with near death experiences. Each one of them has their heart stopped before being revived instantly, which causes them to experience nightmarish visions of their childhood, reflecting either sins they have committed, or sins committed against them. Their unorthodox extracurricular studies have very dark consequences, as their supernatural visions begin to intensify. The original cast also includedOliver PlattandWilliam Baldwin.
This new cast is being described as ‘more inclusive’ and international.Nina Dobrevis portraying Marlo, an overachieving student who is at the top of her class, although no details were given for the other characters quite yet. Thereboot castalso includesJames NortonandKiersey Clemons, withKiefer Sutherlandsaid to be playing a “seasoned doctor,” according to this report fromDeadline.
Niels Arden Oplev(Dead Man Down) is directing from a script byBen Ripley(Source Code). The writer actually started his career by writing sequels to another 90s sci-fi classic, theSpeciesfollow-upsSpecies IIIandSpecies: The Awakening.Michael Douglas, who produced the originalFlatliners, is back to produce the remake, alongsideLaurence Mark.
Production is scheduled to begin in Toronto later this week on thissci-fi reboot. The producers and Sony Pictures had to work out scheduling conflicts withKiefer Sutherland’s new ABC TV seriesDesignated Survivor, so he could shoot bothFlatlinersand his new series at the same time. The actor can currently be seen inForsaken, where he stars alongside his fatherDonald Sutherland, and he is also producing Fox’s24: Legacyreboot.
