Hammer horror is making a comeback with a new owner and a slew of new films

We have exciting news for horror movie fans as Hammer Horror is looking to make a big comeback with a new owner and set of new horror movies. Variety reports that the British theater producer John Gore has acquired Hammer Films and Studios and will take on the challenge of revitalizing the legendary brand.

I’m a big fan of Hammer Horror and gothic horror films produced by the British company Hammer Film Productions in the 1950s and 70s. Hammer is renowned for his elegant revivals of classic horror stories. They created multiple versions of the stories of Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy and the Werewolf. These retellings often added new twists to familiar narratives.

Actor Christopher Lee he is perhaps most famously associated with Hammer for his portrayal of Count Dracula, a role he has played several times. Peter Cushinganother icon of British cinema, he appeared frequently as Van Helsing, Dracula’s archenemy, as well as Dr. Frankenstein in Hammer’s Frankenstein series.

The report states: “Under Gore’s management, the plan is to invest significantly in Hammer Films to breathe new life into the studio, fusing Hammer’s nostalgic charm with modern cinematic style and innovation, while preserving its heritage and the library. A new slate of films and projects will be unveiled shortly.”

The first of these film projects is the Eddie Izzard-hero Doctor Jekillwhich is expected to be released by the end of the year.

The new owner of Hammer said in a statement: “Since I was a young boy, I have been enchanted by the magic of Hammer Films. His stories, his characters and his unique place in British heritage and cinema have been a source of inspiration and wonder. Today, as I lead this iconic studio, my commitment is twofold: to celebrate and preserve Hammer’s unrivaled legacy and to usher in a new era of storytelling that captivates audiences around the world. With significant investment and fresh creative vision, we will ensure that Hammer’s spirit not only endures but thrives in the modern age.”

I wish him the best of luck and hope he and his creative team end up developing some great Hammer horror films!

Founded in 1934, Hammer Film Productions was a small, struggling film company until it began focusing on horror films in the 1950s. It was their genre of colorful, sultry, and sometimes graphic horror that quickly set them apart from the black-and-white American horror films of previous decades.