The Stage

TV makeover for classic Hammer horrors

Published Friday 11 May 2007 at 14:50 by Matthew Hemley

Cult Hammer horror favourites are to be remade for television after the company behind them was sold to a consortium led by Big Brother creator John de Mol.

Hammer Film Productions, which built a reputation for productions like Dracula and Frankenstein, has been sold to Cyrte Investments, of which de Mol is a major investor.

The company is planning to invest around £25m in new productions for both the big screen and television and is understood to be in talks with a UK broadcaster about a Hammer TV series.

Under the deal, the new owners have acquired the Hammer group’s back catalogue of 300 titles, including Dracula and Frankenstein.

A statement issued today said: “Hammer will return to film and television production after more than 30 years with an active development programme designed to emulate the best traditions of Hammer.

“The new management plans to aggressively reinvigorate the Hammer brand for a new generation of horror-lovers, utilising web and mobile technologies, whilst retaining Hammer’s significant heritage.”

Simon Oakes, who will run Hammer for Cyrte said: “Hammer is a great British brand. We intend to take Hammer back into production and develop its global potential.”