Warner Bros. is developing a brand-new romantic comedy inspired by the classic 1998 hit You’ve Got Mail, tapping filmmaker Jason Orley to direct and write the current draft.
The project arrives as studios lean further into familiar IP, bringing fresh creative teams to decades-old romantic formulas popularized by Nora Ephron, Deadline reported.
Warner Bros. Develops a New Take on the 1998 Romantic Comedy
- Warner Bros. is developing a new take on the 1998 romantic comedy, rather than a direct remake of the original film.
- Jason Orley serves as director and writer of the current draft, building upon an initial screenplay by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont.
- Neal Moritz and Tania Landau return to produce the project through Original Film.
Warner Bros. Revives Rom-Com IP
Decades after Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan brought dial-up romance to the global box office, Warner Bros. is revisiting the concept. The Hollywood Reporter said that the studio’s new film will follow an entirely original story rather than directly remaking the 1998 picture.
The original movie grossed more than $250 million worldwide following its December 1998 release. It marked the final collaboration between Hanks, Ryan, and director Nora Ephron, following their work on Joe Versus the Volcano and Sleepless in Seattle.
A remake of ‘YOU'VE GOT MAIL’ is in the works at Warner Bros. (Source: Deadline) pic.twitter.com/2tJ3zT2TBc
Jason Orley Directs as Original Producers Return to the Project
Orley takes on the directing assignment after finishing post-production on his third feature, the Amazon comedy Close Personal Friends starring Brie Larson, Jack Quaid, Lilly Collins, and Henry Golding. His feature directorial debut was the Pete Davidson comedy Big Time Adolescence.
The script builds on foundations laid by screenwriters Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont, known for writing and directing Can’t Hardly Wait and Josie and the Pussycats. Neal Moritz and Tania Landau, who produced the original film, return to produce the new iteration via Original Film, coming off their work on the romantic comedy Beach Read.
Origins in Classic Theater and Film
The underlying premise traces a long lineage through theatrical and cinematic history. The 1998 film drew inspiration from Miklós László’s 1937 Hungarian play Parfumerie. That play previously served as the basis for Ernst Lubitsch’s 1940 film The Shop Around the Corner starring James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan, as well as the 1949 musical In the Good Old Summertime featuring Judy Garland and Van Johnson.
While specific plot details and casting choices remain under wraps at Warner Bros., the creative team faces the challenge of translating anonymous digital correspondence into a modern era dominated by instant messaging and dating apps, The Independent reported.
‘YOU’VE GOT MAIL’ remake is officially in development at Warner Bros. 🎬 🔗 https://t.co/eQm3d80ihN pic.twitter.com/El7exuGGYo
| Adaptation Title | Year | Key Talent |
|---|---|---|
| Parfumerie (Play) | 1937 | Miklós László |
| The Shop Around the Corner | 1940 | James Stewart, Margaret Sullavan |
| In the Good Old Summertime | 1949 | Judy Garland, Van Johnson |
| You’ve Got Mail | 1998 | Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Nora Ephron |
More on Warner Bros
'You've Got Mail' Reboot in the Works at Warner Bros. https://t.co/Zf1ZR0hYQo
