The 1980Chevy ChasecomedyOh! Heavenly Dogis getting the remake treatment at Fox 2000, with the studio hiringTim Hill(Hop) to direct. The filmmaker will also co-write the script with Dave Johnson. Temple Hill, the production company behind theyoung adultfranchiseThe Maze Runner, are producing. The original movie was set up as a starring vehicle forChevy Chaseand his canine co-starBenji, who were equally popular back when the film was made, with the comedy existing solely on the box office draw of its marquee names.
The story centered on a private investigator (Chevy Chase) who is stabbed to death after discovering a dead body. It is decided that he won’t go to Heaven or Hell, but instead is sent back to Earth as a dog, tasked with solving his ownmurder. The originalcomedy moviealso starredJane Seymour,Omar Sharifand Robert Morley. The dog was played by Benjean, daughter of the famous cinematic canineBenji, but was billed as Benji.
Brandon Camp, son of the original Oh! Heavenly Dog directorJoe Camp, is producing alongside Temple Hill. No production schedule was given, and it isn’t known ifChevy Chasehimself will be involved in theremake. It seems unlikely, though, since the actor has calledOh! Heavenly Doghis worst movie ever. It is possible, however, that Benji could return withBrandon Campserving as a producer. In 2012, he was attempting to mount a remake ofBenji, and set about searching for a shelter dog that could take over the name.
Benji has been played by a number of canines over the years, first portrayed by a fourteen year old mutt named Higgins before his daughter Benjean took over the role. A distant relative of the father-daughter duo would later assume the role, and so would a shelter dog discovered in South Mississippi as the series ran the gamut from big screen outings, to TV specials, through a Saturday morning series, and even a comic strip. Since our initial report, there has been little movement on the remake. And it seems the producer is instead trying to mount this other remake instead. An officialFacebookpage was set up back in 2012, which still allows fans to share their dog’s photos in case the nextBenjiis hiding amongst the common folk.
Tim Hilldirected the originalAlvin and the Chipmunksfor Fox back in 2007, which jump-started a popular franchise. That comedy spawned the sequelsAlvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakuel(2009),Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chip-Wrecked(2011) and this year’sAlvin and The Chipmunks: The Road Chip, hitting theaters December 23.Tim Hill’s other directing credits include Muppets from Space, Max Keeble’s Big Move,Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties,Hopand last year’sGrumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever.
Oh! Heavenly Dogonly made $6.2 million when it was released in July 1980, where it had the misfortune of opening whileStar Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Backwas still in theaters. TheStar Warssequel earned $6.6 million in its eighth week in theaters, trouncingOh! Heavenly Dog, which made $323,320. Do you think this obscure comedy is worth remaking? Who would you like to see starring in this new version ofOh! Heavenly Dog?
