Martin
Shankman
The ghost of "Topper" returns.
Disney has bought remake rights to the 1937 film as a vehicle for "Bringing Down the House" helmer Adam Shankman and star Steve Martin.
Original pic, starring Cary Grant, was based on the novel by Thorne Smith about a man haunted by a married pair of madcap ghosts.
Remake will be produced by Shankman and Jennifer Gibgot and David Hoberman of Mandeville Films.. Mandeville prexy Todd Lieberman will exec produce.
Pic marks the first buy for Shankman and Gibgot's Offspring label under their overall deal at the studio.
As yet there is no start date on pic, and it has not been decided whether it will be Shankman's next.
Hoberman and Shankman teamed on Disney's current release "Bringing Down the House," co-financed by Hyde Park Entertainment, in which Hoberman was formally partnered with Ashok Amritraj.
Martin next will star in 20th Century Fox's remake of "Cheaper by the Dozen" for helmer Shawn Levy; Bonnie Hunt co-stars. Production on that pic starts March 31.
"Topper" will be overseen at Disney by exec VP of production Jason Reed.
Shankman and Gibgot are repped by UTA. Martin is repped by ICM.
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