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Hollywood’s popular romantic comedy You’ve Got Mail is set to return in a new version, nearly three decades after its release.
Warner Bros is developing a new film inspired by the 1998 classic starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, but it will feature an entirely new storyline rather than a direct remake.
Jason Orley has been tapped to direct the project. He previously worked on films and projects including I Want You Back, Bupkis and Close Personal Friends. Orley is also writing the screenplay, based on a script by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont.
Neil Moritz and Tanya Landau, who were associated with the original film, will serve as producers. However, details about the new film’s plot, cast and potential release date have not yet been announced.
Released in 1998, You’ve Got Mail was directed by Nora Ephron. Tom Hanks played Joe Fox, the owner of a large bookstore chain, while Meg Ryan portrayed Kathleen Kelly, who runs a small independent bookshop.
The story follows two people who fall in love through online correspondence without knowing each other’s real identities.
In real life, however, Joe’s business expansion threatens Kathleen’s small bookstore. The conflict between romance and business rivalry drives the film’s narrative.
The original film was based on Parfumerie, a 1937 play by Hungarian playwright Miklós László. Greg Kinnear, Parker Posey, Steve Zahn and Dave Chappelle also featured in the cast.
You’ve Got Mail grossed more than $250 million worldwide. Meg Ryan received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for her performance in the following year.
Although plans are now underway to revive the much-loved film, it remains unclear how the new story will differ from the original. There has also been no announcement on whether Hanks and Ryan will be involved in the new project.