Will The Keri Russell Remake Happen?

Lionsgate and MarVista are planning to remake the 1996 made-for-TV thriller The Babysitter’s Seduction. Here’s an update on the status of the movie.

Here’s an update on the status of Lionsgate and MarVista Entertainment’s remake of the Keri Russell-fronted TV movie The Babysitter’s Seduction. Made-for-TV movies are generally considered inferior to their theatrical counterparts and while it’s true some of them can be schlocky, the medium has nevertheless produced some entertaining content. Case in point is The Babysitter’s Seduction, a made-for-TV thriller produced by Hearst Entertainment that aired on NBC back in 1996 and starred a then relatively unknown actor named Keri Russell (The Americans) as its titular childminder.

Russell plays Michelle Winston – a high schooler who lands a dream gig babysitting the kids of wealthy businessman Bill Bartrand (Stephen Collins) and his wife Sally (Dawn Lambing). When Sally dies of an apparent suicide, Michelle soon finds herself drawn into a tawdry affair with the manipulative Bill. Her situation gets even more complicated when the detectives investigating Sally’s death (played by The Cosby Show’s Phylicia Rashad and Saw villain Tobin Bell) suspect she was murdered and all evidence points to Michelle being her killer.

In June 2021 news broke that Lionsgate was teaming up with MarVista to remake a series of Hearst Entertainment made-for-TV thrillers including the Linda Hamilton-fronted film Sex And Mr. X, Sex, Lies And Obsession (which starred Lisa Rinna and Harry Hamlin) and The Babysitter’s Seduction. Neither Lionsgate nor MarVista have provided much in the way of updates since, however, so is their remake of The Babysitter’s Seduction still happening? Here’s what we know.

The Babysitter’s Seduction Remake Is Likely Happening

The lack of updates regarding the status of The Babysitter’s Seduction doesn’t necessarily mean that the TV movie thriller is no longer happening. Lionsgate and MarVista only announced their plans in June 2021, so it’s likely The Babysitter’s Seduction remake is still in the early stages of development as the two studios search for the right cast and crew for the project.

The Babysitter’s Seduction Will Be A Modern, Diverse Retelling

The Babysitter’s Seduction is a typically schlocky product of the TV movie thriller genre, and its plot is somewhat at odds with the recent strides in sexual harassment prevention made by movements like #MeToo or Time’s Up. Add to that the fact that the star of the original film Stephen Collins confessed to sexual misconduct against minors back in 2014, and some might say Lionsgate and MarVista’s decision to remake the movie is in bad taste.

However, Lionsgate and MarVista revealed in a Deadline exclusive that they have plans in place to make sure The Babysitter’s Seduction remake is updated for the current climate. According to MarVista CEO Fernando Szew, the film will be retold “through a modern and diverse lens” so hopefully the remake can explore the original film's premise from a more thoughtful perspective.

Next: How Cherry Falls Became The Most Expensive Made For TV Horror Movie Ever