Kevin Hart updates fans on Planes, Trains and Automobiles remake with Will Smith

Virgin Radio

24 Feb 2023, 10:59

Classic movie Planes, Trains and Automobiles is set for a remake, starring Will Smith and Kevin Hart, and the latter has spoken about how the project is going.

The original comedy was written and directed by John Hughes, and starred the legendary Steve Martin and John Candy. They played two businessmen desperately trying to make it home to Chicago in time for Thanksgiving, and encountering plenty of obstacles along the way. 

Now, a new version is in development, but it’s proving to take a while to get right. In a new interview with ET Canada, the comedian and actor said: “Still writing!”

Continuing to talk about the project with Will Smith, he said: “Excited to figure something out with my guy. Both from Philadelphia, we've yet to do anything and we're just doing ourselves a disservice.”

Explaining that he is “trying to crack the code”, the Ride Along star said: “You cannot do it until it's right, and sometimes that takes time. Lots of drafts, lots of rewrites, lots of brainstorming.

"We'll get it there, and when we do, it will be what it's supposed to be, which is amazing."

Indeed, the new project has got some big boots to fill, as the John Hughes film - which came out over 35 years ago in 1987 - remains highly regarded. It currently has an overall critics’ rating of 92 percent on review aggregating site, Rotten Tomatoes, with an audience score of 87 percent.

At the end of last year, some never-been-seen-before clips, behind-the-scenes footage and documentaries from the OG Planes, Trains and Automobiles were released as part of a new Blu-ray release.

The new digital and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray offering has a bonus Lost Luggage disc featuring previously unearthed and extended scenes that were recently discovered in John Hughes’s archive. Also included is footage from Dylan Baker's original audition as Owen.

In related news, Will Smith is set to star with Michael B Jordan in a sequel to I Am Legend.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles was released in 4K Ultra HD on 22nd November 2022.