Classic Slasher Sleepaway Camp Getting a Remake from Kenan Thompson and Robert Hiltzik
The blood-soaked legacy of Sleepaway Camp is heading back to the screen. After years of whispers and stalled attempts, a fresh remake of the cult 1983 slasher is finally moving forward — and this time, the project has its original creator at the helm.
According to Deadline, Kenan Thompson, best known for his long-running stint on Saturday Night Live, is producing the new film alongside Johnny Ryan Jr. through their production company AFA. Most exciting of all, original writer-director Robert Hiltzik is returning to both script and direct the remake, promising to preserve the essence of the original while reintroducing it to a new generation of horror fans.
Original Vision Meets New Blood
Hiltzik revealed that he and his wife had been approached for decades about rebooting the franchise, but had resisted until now. What finally convinced him was AFA’s creative-first approach and their insistence on keeping the original filmmakers deeply involved in the project.
“I am both thrilled and humbled to be working with AFA on the reimagined Sleepaway Camp,” Hiltzik told Deadline. “Only AFA has shared my vision and is excited to have me helm the film, therefore preserving the integrity of the original film for the fans, as well as introducing Sleepaway Camp to a whole new generation. Be prepared for a new member of the Sleepaway Camp family.”
Thompson echoed the excitement, saying, “Excited to work with the original genius Robert and bring back to life a camp classic!” Ryan Jr. added, “We’ve wanted this title for 20 years and we’re over the moon Robert came back to write it. We’re staying true to the OG story while Robert is adding in some insane new twists — we’re going crazy with the merch too!”
A Cult Slasher Legacy
Released in 1983, the original Sleepaway Camp shocked audiences with its mix of gruesome deaths and an infamous twist ending that has since become a cornerstone of slasher lore. The story follows Angela Baker, a shy young girl who is sent to Camp Arawak after a tragic boating accident kills her family. Once there, a series of bizarre and brutal murders begins to thin the ranks of campers and staff, leading to a deeply disturbing revelation.
The film starred Felissa Rose as Angela alongside Mike Kellin, Jonathan Tiersten, Christopher Collet and Karen Fields.
It spawned several sequels, including Sleepaway Camp II: Unhappy Campers (1988) and Sleepaway Camp III: Teenage Wasteland (1989) from Michael A. Simpson, the long-delayed Return to Sleepaway Camp (2008) from Hiltzik himself, and the abandoned Sleepaway Camp IV: The Survivor, which halted production in 1992 after only 34 minutes of footage were shot. Despite its turbulent history, the franchise remains a beloved cult favourite among slasher fans.
Back to Camp… and Back to Basics
Plot details about the new Sleepaway Camp are being kept tightly under wraps, but the producers have promised to stay true to the tone and spirit of the original while injecting new twists to surprise audiences.
Ryan Jr. teased that this is “only the beginning” of what they hope will be a full-blown franchise revival, while Hiltzik’s return ensures that the new film will honour what made the 1983 original so enduringly shocking.
Executive producers Robinson Velasco, Monica Weber, Cory Litwin and Boris Shvartz are also on board as the project moves into script development.
No casting or release date has been confirmed yet, but fans can rest assured — summer at Camp Arawak is about to get bloody once again.
