Director Fickman to conjure "Witch" redo

By Borys Kit

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Andy Fickman is coming on board to direct "Witch Mountain," Walt Disney Pictures' modern reimagining of its 1975 adventure movie "Escape to Witch Mountain."

The first film was based on a science fiction novel by Alexander Key. It followed a pair of siblings, endowed with paranormal powers, who go on the run from a diabolical group of men who wish to exploit their abilities. The brother and sister turn out to be extraterrestrials.

The movie hatched a 1978 sequel, "Return from Witch Mountain," best remembered for featuring Bette Davis and Christopher Lee in the cast, as well as a TV movie, "Beyond Witch Mountain" (1982), that was to have been a pilot for a series.

Matt Lopez wrote the current draft of the script. Lopez also penned the studio's "Bedtime Stories," which is due to go before cameras in January with Adam Shankman directing Adam Sandler.

Fickman directed Disney's upcoming family comedy "The Game Plan," starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter