In a world of reboots and remakes, Issa Rae has thrown her hat in the ring by reimagining the 1996 drama/thriller “Set It Off.” But the anticipation for the upcoming effort seems to be absent.
Rae, who currently executive produces and stars in the HBO comedy “Insecure,” will produce the new version of the crime flick that starred Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox and Kimberly Elise. It’s possible she’ll also star in the New Line film but what’s certain is that she’ll share producer credits with her Issa Rae Productions partner Montrel McKay, according to Monday reports from various entertainment news outlets.
Additionally, two writers have been tapped to pen the script: Syreeta Singleton, of the Showtime dark comedy series “Black Monday” and Nina Gloster of Fox’s now-canceled musical drama “Star.”
No other details about the effort have been released, so it’s not clear how far it will stray from the ’90s hit film. The movie, which was directed by F. Gary Gray, focused on four women who are struggling with their finances after various personal woes as they engage in a series of bank heists. While the first one is a success, soon misfortune befalls the group.
The film has endured for years and has become a cult classic. Perhaps that’s the reason why so many movie fans are decidedly against Rae taking on the film.
“No….Just no! Well enough should be left alone!”
“I love Issa Rae to death but producing a ‘Set it Off’ remake is totally unnecessary. The casting, acting and chemistry in the original #SetItOff is perfect. Some classics should be left sacred and untouched. I would much rather see Issa make her own completely original film.”
“Who said Set it Off needed ‘reimagining’???”
“This really pisses me off. @IssaRae is so inauthentic. We can’t let this new era black talent piggy back & destroy our classics. Drop this project @newlinecinema . Invest in a creative mind. Issa ain’t it.”
“I love #IssaRae …but it’s a firm ‘no’ from me!! #NoSetItOffRemake #ItWasPerfectAsIs 😳😩🙅🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️✊🏾🖤💯🌺🌈🔮😳😩🙅🏾♀️🤦🏾♀️”
“No one wants a SET IT OFF remake/reimagining/reboot of any kind. Come on now, we are better than this. Someone please redirect Issa Rae’s direction cause that we ain’t supporting.”
Producing “Set It Off” will mark Rae’s follow up to other producing ventures like “Insecure,” which recently began filming season 4, and HBO’s “A Black Lady Sketch Show.”
