‘Fantasy Island’ Takes A Darker Turn

Once again, Hollywood turns to old TV shows for inspiration. But as with The Banana Splits Movie, Fantasy Island is taking a much darker turn than it did in the 1970’s on ABC television.

Pause the SCIFI.radio stream using the controller at the upper right while you watch the trailer.

“The enigmatic Mr. Roarke (Michael Peña), makes the secret dreams of his lucky guests come true at a luxurious but remote tropical resort. But when the fantasies turn into nightmares, the guests have to solve the island’s mystery in order to escape with their lives.”

Michael Peña, who played Ant-Man’s friend Luis in the MCU, replaces the late Ricardo Montalban (Khan Noonien Singh in Star Trek and Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan, Armando in Escape from the Planet of the Apes, and Conquest of the Planet of the Apes) as the enigmatic Mr. Roarke. 

Instead of Hervé Villechaize as Roarke’s assistant Tattoo, Michael Peña is assisted by Julia, a charming, attractive young lady.

As in the original show, the guests may realize that what they thought their fantasy was, isn’t what they really wanted. As always on Fantasy Island, it’s next to impossible to tell what is real, what is supernatural, and what is Roarke using holograms and Hollywood special effects to confuse and beguile his guests.

Fantasy Island is from Blumhouse Productions, infamous for Halloween and Get Out. It star Lucy Hale, Maggie Q, Michael Pena, Portia Doubleday, and Charlotte McKinney, and is scheduled for release February 14, 2020 (coincidentally the same day as the reworked Sonic the Hedgehog movie). Based on the trailer, it seems likely this movie will be PG-13 or R.

Are you looking forward to this Valentine’s Day release? Sound off in the comments section below.

And now that you’re done watching the trailer, turn your SCIFI.radio stream back on. We know it was only a minute or two, but we missed you.

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Susan Macdonald

Susan Macdonald is the author of the children’s book “R is for Renaissance Faire”, as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in “Alternative Truths”, “Swords and Sorceress #30”, Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, “Cat Tails” “Under Western Stars”, and “Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid”. Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio’s web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions,  Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.