Issa Rae is trying to let Set It Off fans know that their favorite film isn’t getting remade.

In 2019, it was announced that Rae would produce and possibly star in a remake of Set It Off for New Line Cinema, with Black Monday writer Syreeta Singleton and Star writer Nina Gloster set to pen a script.

Promoting her new film The Photograph, Rae recently told Entertainment Tonight that she is not intending on rebooting the classic 1996 film. “Oh, I would never remake a classic,” she said. “I don’t know where that came from.” It is unclear if this previously-reported project isn’t happening altogether, or if this film is still in development — just not as a straight remake of the film. Shadow And Act reached out to Rae’s team for further clarification but did not receive a comment.

The latest comments from Rae may relieve Set it Off fans, including star Vivica A. Fox who expressed that she wasn’t pleased with the idea of a remake.

“It’s a classic, leave it alone,” she said last year. “There’s absolutely no reason to try to redo it. We did it so well that people are absolutely going to compare it to that and think that’s her taking on a tremendous chore because that film has become a cult classic and some things are just better left. Like, create your own franchise. If you want to do a new film about girls robbing banks, create your own thing.”

The original 1996 movie, directed by F. Gary Gray starred Fox, Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah and Kimberly Elise. It chronicled a group of friends who, for different reasons,  began robbing banks, resulting in tragic consequences.

Earning $41 million against its $9 million budget, it was a box office hit and garnered positive reviews from critics. It also showed the power of a film with all Black women as the leads at a time when Black actresses were rarely afforded the opportunity.

 

READ MORE:

Issa Rae To Produce, Potentially Star In ‘Set It Off’ Reimagining At New Line

Here’s What Vivica A. Fox Thinks Of The ‘Set It Off’ Remake

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