15 Films We’re Amazed That Hollywood Hasn’t Remade Already

14. National Velvet

I'm sure I just heard a hoard of men scoffing at the idea of remaking National Velvet. But seriously, there is money to be made from this here horse films. Not only the film itself which should in theory be relatively cheap to make, but also the range of potential merchandise from the things they can sell to little girls. Besides, right now the rights holder to the film must be starting to realise that a new National Velvet film could get My Little Pony fans to go see it... and for the first time in that franchise's history it has crossover appeal into the male market. But to summarise, National Velvet was a 1944 film about a twelve year old girl played by Elizabeth Taylor who wins a horse in a raffle and trains him for the grand national. Think Seabiscuit but for kids. Also remember that Seabiscuit was made for $87 million and took $148 million at the box office. Not a massive profit, but I don't think that a National Velvet remake would cost nearly as much to make as you wouldn't need to set it in a period piece. As for what I'd do about it? I'd virtually ignore the book and stop the steeplechase stuff. Instead, I'd move it into one of the Olympic horse trial sports. Simply because this would make the sequel easier €“ because if you remake National Velvet, then you might as well remake International Velvet too. And that would sell a lot more tickets if you set it at the Olympics and released it in an Olympic year. Probability: Remote, until someone realises that it would turn a tidy profit.
Contributor
Contributor

I'm a pop culture addict. Television, cinema, comics, games - you name it, and I've done it. Or at least read the plot synopsis on Wikipedia.