Remake Radar: The Day the Earth Stood Still

Welcome to the June edition of Remake Radar, where we tackle Hollywood's penchant for remaking previous films (for better or worse). This edition's remake: The Day the Earth Stood Still.

"The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951)

Stars: Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe, and Sam Jaffe.

Director: Robert Wise

Story: Klaatu (Rennie) lands his spaceship on Earth to give a message of peace. The response in kind is to shoot at him. He calls out his giant robot Gort (Lock Martin) and narrowly escapes. Klaatu blends into society by calling himself Mr. Carpenter, and meets single mom Helen Benson (Neal) and her son, Bobby (Billy Gray). He tours around a bit, finds out that mankind has a penchant for warfare, and warns others that if the Earth doesn't stop making other planets feel uncomfortable, it'll be destroyed. Speaking of which, unless he gets to Gort and repeats the magic words, Earth WILL be destroyed.

Based on: "Farewell to the Master," by Harry Bates.

What do we know now?: It's coming out at the end of the year! Director Scott Derrickson ("The Exorcism of Emily Rose") will be bringing it to a theatre near you on/around December 12, 2008.

The current cast:

Jennifer Connelly... Helen Benson

Keanu Reeves... Klaatu

John Cleese... Dr. Barnhardt

Kathy Bates... ?