Producer gets prolific

Grunfeld plans passel of redos including 'Heathcliff,' 'Mame'

By CATHY DUNKLEY

Producer Gabriel Grunfeld, who most recently produced "The Stepford Wives" with Scott Rudin, Donald De Line and the late Edgar J. Scherick, is developing a number of other remakes.

He's packaging a contemporary redo of the Rosalind Russell classic "Auntie Mame," to be produced through Grunfeld's Laureate Films and co-produced by Ksana Golod. Grunfeld has penned a treatment and is in talks with a writer-director to set up the project at a studio.

Laureate Films, in which Grunfeld was partnered with Scherick for 10 years before latter died in 2002, funds its own development and production via a private fund and through pre-sales. Scherick, one of the producers of the original "Stepford Wives," owned the remake rights and set up the project at Paramount.

Other pics on the development slate include "Heathcliff," a bigscreen adaptation of the comicstrip, which Grunfeld is writing and producing with Barney and Ivan Cohen. Animated pic is already fully financed.

Grunfeld also is working on a feature adaptation of the Stephen King short stories that were adapted for the 1982 horror anthology pic "Creepshow," also with Barney Cohen. Project is intended as a TV series, as well, down the line.

On the legit side, Grunfeld is working with Ron Sossi, artistic director of West L.A.'s Odyssey Theater, to produce a version of political play "The Chicago Seven Conspiracy Trial." He also is working on a screen adaptation of Stuart Roth's stage musical "Forever Plaid" to be produced with Benni Korzen.

Grunfeld is a partner in small animation house Studio-Free Studios and is exec producer on animated feature "Big Bug Man" from "The Simpsons" writer Bob Bendetson.