The Wayans Brothers Reunite to Reboot 'Scary Movie': Five Interesting Facts About the Original Film

Looks like we're getting more from the Wayans brothers!

The Scary Movie franchise is back and the Wayans brothers are reuniting to breathe new life into the series they created over two decades ago.

Announced at CinemaCon, Keenen Ivory Wayans, who directed the first two films, will join forces with his brothers Marlon and Shawn, who previously starred in and co-wrote the original entries, for a reboot. The trio alongside longtime collaborator Rick Alvarez will write and produce an original screenplay that will satirize today’s horror scene in classic Scary Movie style.

According to Deadline, filming is set to begin next year, and a theatrical release is planned.

Jonathan Glickman, head of Miramax, expressed his excitement: "We are thrilled to reunite Scary Movie with the Wayans brothers, the brilliant creators behind the beloved franchise. The timing is perfect to bring back the series to the big screen, and we’re lucky to have Keenen, Marlon, and Shawn’s unique comedic vision bringing it to audiences around the world.”

As Scary Movie gears up for its return, here are five interesting facts about the franchise:

Scary Movie Was Shawn Wayans’ Brainchild

Shawn Wayans initially came up with the idea for Scary Movie, and he collaborated with his brothers to develop the script that would transform horror comedy.

The Working Title Was a Mouthful

Originally, Scary Movie was titled Last Summer I Screamed Because Friday the 13th Fell on Halloween. The Wayans went with Scary Movie as a nod to Scream—a fitting reference, as the franchise frequently parodied the iconic horror.

Keenan Ivory Wayans Wanted the Actors to Improv

Director Keenen Ivory Wayans gave the actors freedom to improvise, often choosing the funniest takes for the final cut. Shannen Elizabeth recalled to Entertainment Weekly, "Keenen said, 'I want to shoot what's on the page, and then I'm going to let you guys do anything you want. At the end of the day, I'm going to use whatever's the funniest and the best, and I, as the director, will get credit for it.'"

Aaliyah Was Considered for Brenda

The late singer Aaliyah was offered the role of Brenda but turned it down to avoid people thinking she was disrespecting Brandy, whom the character parodied. Regina Hall ultimately took the part and became one of the franchise’s standout stars.

"They wanted me to play Brandy, and kind of do a parody of her," the late singer explained in an MTV2 interview. "I actually liked the script, I thought it was really funny, but I didn't want anybody to take it like I was disrespecting her in anyway. So, I actually didn't do it and it turned out to be a really funny movie."

Scary Movie Gossed Almost $300M At The box office

Despite mixed critical reviews, Scary Movie was a box office phenomenon, earning nearly $300 million worldwide on a $20 million budget, making it one of the highest-grossing films in the horror-comedy genre.