Whether you’re ready for more “Brundlefly” or not, it’s time to step back into the telepod. 20th Century Studios has officially greenlit a new installment in the universe of David Cronenberg’s 1986 body-horror masterpiece, The Fly.
While the 1989 sequel The Fly II was mostly remembered for being, well, a sequel. Luckily, this new project is being described as a spinoff rather than a direct remake. It aims to carve out its own space within the existing lore—meaning we’re likely moving past the Brundle family and into fresh, oozing territory.
For those of you who are unaware, the 1986 film is not the original. That honor goes to the 1958 film directed by Kurt Neumann and starring Vincent Price. If you haven’t seen it, you should. You can find it on Prime, YouTube, and Fubo.
The Vision: From Nanny to Nightmares
The film will be written and directed by Nikyatu Jusu, the breakout filmmaker behind the Sundance hit Nanny. If her previous work is any indication, expect a blend of:
Atmospheric Dread, a focus on psychological tension over cheap jump scares. There will likely be elevated horror, taking the “man-turned-insect” premise and giving it the same tragic, high-stakes weight Cronenberg did in the ’80s.
Following the massive success of 2024’s The Substance, there is clearly a hunger for the kind of practical, stomach-turning effects that made the original 1986 film an Oscar-winner.
The “Adam Driver” Factor
While plot details are being guarded like a government secret, rumors are swirling that the Star Wars actor Adam Driver is set to star. If true, Driver’s penchant for intense, physical performances makes him the perfect candidate to follow in Jeff Goldblum’s footsteps. Whether he’s playing a scientist or a victim of a new corporate experiment, he’s got the range to make us actually care while his fingernails are falling off.
There’s also a rumor that Zendaya has joined the film, but that has not been confirmed.
Building a “Brundleverse”
By setting the film “in the universe” rather than rebooting it, Jusu has the freedom to explore the global fallout of Seth Brundle’s teleportation technology. Was the experiment truly isolated? While we wait for more details, head over to Prime Video and watch the original The Fly now. Here’s a look back at the trailer.
