MGM to Remake Fame for Summer '08 Release

Backstage reports that MGM will bring Fame back to the screen with a remake of the 1980 movie musical about students striving for success at the High School of Performing Arts.

300 producer Mark Canton and Lakeshore Entertainment will be behind the remake, which will be released in summer of 2008.  A writer and director are reportedly on board, but no details have been announced.  "We'll update it, (but) we'll still keep some of the songs. The script is being written right now, but we are keeping it under wraps. There will be a strong musical component, though," said MGM COO Rick Sands.

Directed by Alan Parker, Fame was written by Christopher Gore and featured Irene Cara, Boyd Gaines, Anne Meara, Joanna Merlin, and Barry Miller among its cast.  The film - which featured songs such as "Out Here On My Own" and the title song - spawned a long-running TV series as well as a stage version.  Fame on 42nd Street played the Little Shubert Theatre from November of 2003 through June of 2004.