‘Firestarter’ remake to be directed by ‘A Beautiful Mind’ screenwriter

Stephen King’s classic novel “Firestarter” is getting made into a movie again, and this time it’ll be directed by Akiva Goldsman, the Oscar-awarded screenwriter of 2001 Best Picture winner “A Beautiful Mind.”

Goldsman and Jason Blum of Blumhouse Productions made the announcement at the Overlook Film Festival.

“Firestarter” revolves around a young girl named Charlene “Charlie” McGee, whose pyrokinetic powers allow her to set anything (or anyone) ablaze with a thought. Charlie and her father are on the run from the government, which hopes to weaponize those powers.

The book, published in 1980, was previously adapted into the Mark Lester-directed 1984 movie starring Drew Barrymore. It was the third movie to feature the young and talented actress (the first two being 1980’s “Altered States” and 1982’s “E.T.: The Extraterrestrial”). The cast also included Martin Sheen, David Keith, Heather Locklear, Art Carney, and George C. Scott.

Universal Pictures distributed the original film, and it will also be involved in the new movie’s development alongside Blumhouse Productions and Goldsman.

At the Oscars, Goldsman received the Best Adapted Screenplay award for his work on “A Beautiful Mind.” He also wrote the screenplays for “A Time to Kill,” “Batman & Robin” and “The Da Vinci Code,” and executive produced the third, fourth, and fifth installments in the “Paranormal Activity” franchise.

Goldsman also served as producer and co-writer on the upcoming “The Dark Tower,” another film based on a Stephen King classic. — BM, GMA News