Somewhere in the deep shadows of nostalgia, where ‘90s horror films have long lingered, a cult classic is stirring once more. The Faculty, that strange and beautiful mutation of Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets The Breakfast Club, is getting a remake. And while the halls of Herrington High are about to reopen, the biggest question remains: Can this new vision capture the eerie magic of the original?
The Brains Behind the New Experiment
Miramax has officially confirmed that a Faculty remake is in development, and there’s already a powerful creative force behind it. The biggest news? Robert Rodriguez, the mastermind who helmed the original film, is stepping in as a producer. While he won’t be directing this time around, his involvement signals a deep respect for the twisted fun of the 1998 version.
The script is in the hands of Drew Hancock, fresh off his work on Companion, a recent horror-thriller that showcased his knack for atmospheric dread. And then there’s BoulderLight, the production company responsible for Barbarian and Woman of the Hour, bringing their sharp, genre-savvy instincts to the table. With a team like this, the potential for something electric is undeniable.
The Legacy of the 1998 Classic
For those who haven’t revisited The Faculty in a while—or for those about to experience it for the first time—the film is a perfect storm of late ‘90s horror, sci-fi paranoia, and teenage rebellion. Directed by Rodriguez and written by Scream scribe Kevin Williamson, it delivered a high school horror tale infused with razor-sharp dialogue, biting humor, and a killer ensemble cast, including Josh Hartnett, Jordana Brewster, Elijah Wood, and Famke Janssen.
The premise was simple yet brilliant: a group of students discovers that their teachers (and eventually their peers) are being taken over by parasitic aliens. What followed was a mix of high school drama, body horror, and all-out sci-fi madness, wrapped up in a perfectly executed homage to both classic invasion films and ‘90s teen cinema. Though it grossed $63 million at the box office, it was in the afterlife of VHS and DVD that The Faculty found its most devoted fans.
A Remake with Challenges and Possibilities
Reimagining The Faculty for a new era is both an exciting and daunting task. The original captured a unique moment in time—when grunge met goth, when teen movies weren’t afraid to get weird, and when horror was in the middle of a self-aware renaissance.
The question now is: How will the new version adapt the story for today’s audience? Will it lean into modern anxieties—social media, AI, deepfake paranoia—while maintaining that raw sense of alienation that made the first film resonate? Or will it become another slick, overproduced reboot that forgets what made The Faculty special?
The absence of a confirmed director or cast means a lot is still up in the air. But with Rodriguez watching over the project and a studio willing to take a gamble on bringing this story back to life, there’s reason to believe this remake could be more than just another nostalgia grab.
Final Bell: A Remake Worth Watching?
The new Faculty has the potential to be a sleeper hit, just like its predecessor. If the creative team understands what made the original work—its perfect blend of humor, horror, and teen angst—it could breathe fresh, terrifying life into a story that still holds relevance today.
For now, the only thing we know for sure is that Herrington High is back in session. And once again, we’ll be watching closely—because something strange is happening, and the truth is out there, just waiting to be uncovered.