Hollywood Watch, Part XIV

Remember the 1985 horror-comedy movie, "Fright Night"? It was a scary, funny, tongue-in-cheek vampire movie which starred William Ragsdale, Chris Sarandon, Amanda Bearse and, in one of his best later career roles, Hollywood legend Roddie McDowall as the vampire hunter, Peter Vincent.
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(colin farrell)

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With the current craze over all things vampire, it should come as no surprise to hear that Hollywood is remaking the classic cult film, only this time, the cast is, surprisingly, A-List. Colin Farrell will take Chris Sarandon's role as the sexy bloodsucker next door, and Oscar nominated Toni Collette has been cast as Charley Brewster's mother, Judy.
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(left-toni collette;
right-anton yelchin)
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The starring role is Charley Brewster, the wide-eyed boy-next-door, (literally), who discovers that his new neighbor is a vampire. No one believes Charley, of course, so he turns to Peter Vincent, a B-television actor who hosts a horror anthology show, who then reluctantly joins Charley's quest to hunt the night stalker.
"Terminator Salvation"'s Anton Yelchin has won the role of Charley.
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(upper left-roddie mcdowell as peter vincent, upper right-"evil" ed, below-chris sarandon as jerry dandridge)
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Craig Gillespie, who produces and directs Collette's "United States of Tara" is directing, but no word yet on the pivotal roles of Peter Vincent, Amy or "Evil" Ed.
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The role of Peter Vincent, the Don Knotts-like, shaky-kneed vampire hunter is crucial. Vincent is the character upon which the story's entire plot turns, and the Roddie McDowell performance in the original film was supreme. The role has to go to an older character actor, one capable of animated excitement matched with steely determination. Maybe Dustin Hoffman? No, we've got it: Ricky Gervais. Yes.