Sony Developing ‘Re-Imagining’ Of ‘Tarzan’ For 21st Century

Sony has obtained the rights from Burroughs’ estate.

Tarzan

A new Tarzan film is in the works from Sony that is said to be a modern re-imagining of the character.

Tarzan was created by the esteemed author Edgar Rice Burroughs in 1912 before appearing in the novel, Tarzan of the Apes. Countless sequels followed along with adaptations in other mediums. From the animated Disney classic to the recent The Legend of Tarzan film starring Alexander Skarsgård.

A Tarzan for a New Age

It feels like only a matter of time before Disney does a live-action remake of their 1999 film, but a reason why we haven’t seen it yet might be because they don’t have the rights to the character. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sony Pictures has acquired the film rights to Tarzan from Burroughs’ estate, Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc.

With the rights to Tarzan, Sony is planning a “total reinvention” of the character by bringing him into the 21st century. No talent is attached to the project at this time.

Here is the synopsis for 2016’s The Legend of Tarzan:

“It has been years since the man once known as Tarzan (Skarsgård) left the jungles of Africa behind for a gentrified life as John Clayton III, Lord Greystoke, with his beloved wife, Jane (Robbie) at his side. Now, he has been invited back to the Congo to serve as a trade emissary of Parliament, unaware that he is a pawn in a deadly convergence of greed and revenge, masterminded by the Belgian, Captain Leon Rom (Waltz). But those behind the murderous plot have no idea what they are about to unleash.”

Directed by David Yates from a script written by Adam Cozad and Craig Brewer, The Legend of Tarzan stars Alexander Skarsgård, Samuel L. Jackson, Margot Robbie, Djimon Hounsou, Ella Purnell, Christoph Waltz, Casper Crump, Cali Nelle, and Rory J. Saper.

Stay tuned for all the latest news on Sony’s upcoming projects, and subscribe to Heroic Hollywood’s YouTube channel for more original video content.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Ryden Scarnato

Ryden Scarnato

Ryden's affection for all things DC, Marvel, and Star Wars has led him to entertainment journalism at Heroic Hollywood as a News Editor.