A Slap Shot remake in the works

BY MIKE MASTOVICH
The Tribune-Democrat

June 11, 2008 11:27 pm

— Part III of the “Slap Shot” trilogy is set for a release in the next few months according to movie Hanson Brother Steve Carlson.
Additionally, a possible remake of the original still is on course during what might turn out to be “Slap Shot’s” year.
Hollywood screenwriter Peter Steinfeld said Wednesday that Universal Studios’ initial response to his first draft of the “Slap Shot” remake was positive and he continues to tweak the script.
“It’s been a pretty crazy process,” Steinfeld said when reached Wednesday in Hollywood. “The good news is I turned in a draft about six weeks ago that Universal really loved. They’re really excited about it.”
Steinfeld, 41, visited Johnstown in February to gather information on the Johnstown Chiefs – present and past teams. He met with players, coaches, front office members, fans and media to gain a perspective on Johnstown hockey.
His screenplay will have many ties to Nancy Dowd’s original “Slap Shot” script, with characters such as Reggie Dunlop, Ned Braden and the Hansons. Steinfeld intends to update the hockey setting as well as life in Charlestown to give the movie a 2000s look instead of the 1970s steel town vibe.
“It’s been an interesting ride so far. I wrote a brand new script. It was a little more along the lines of what Nancy Dowd had done,” Steinfeld said. “I referred back to her script and kind of used that as a jumping off point.
“I turned in the material and the producers were really happy. The studio got a hold of it a little over a month ago. They’re excited about it. They came back to me and said, ‘So far, so good.’ They had some ideas and thoughts they want me to incorporate. That’s what I’ve been doing the last three weeks. That’s a very good sign. If they weren’t encouraged, they would have just moved onto a different writer or said, ‘The movie’s not working out how we want it to.’ We’re heading down the right path. I’m in the process right now of addressing the studio notes.”
Steinfeld hopes the process continues in the next six weeks to two months.
“If all goes well we would go out and try to get a director attached,” he said. “If we get a director attached, we can go out and cast this movie. Everything is positive right now. You never know when you turn in a script. All systems are go right now. They still have not guaranteed they are going to make the movie.
“I finally feel like we have the right tone,” he added. “I tried to recapture the spirit of the original. That’s the hardest part to recapture the magic.”