‘Brewster’s Millions’ Remake in the Works From Director Robert Townsend

Today in “things you didn’t know you needed”: A remake of Brewster’s Millions is currently in development, based on the 1902 novel that’s previously been adapted 10 times. And today in “things you were totally not aware of”: There have been 10 adaptations of Brewster’s Millions. The latest will be helmed by Robert Townsend, best known for directing The Five Heartbeats and acclaimed stand-up documentary Eddie Murphy: Raw.

Variety reports that Townsend will direct the newest adaptation of Brewster’s Millions, although no stars are currently attached. (Kevin Hart, though, right? Has to be Kevin Hart.) The adaptation you’re most familiar with is the 1985 version directed by Walter Hill, starring Richard Pryor and John Candy.

Brewster’s Millions is based on the 1902 novel by George Barr McCutcheon, which was first adapted into a 1906 play, followed by 10 different film adaptations. Of those, the most notable are the 1945 version starring Dennis O’Keefe and Helen Walker, and a 1926 film titled Miss Brewster’s Millions, featuring a female version of Brewster.

The story centers on Montgomery Brewster, a man who inherits a million dollars when his grandfather passes away. Not long after, his uncle promises to give him $7 million, with a catch: Brewster can’t keep any of the money he inherited from his grandfather. So he sets about trying to spend the initial $1 million within a year.

In the 1985 version, Pryor played a minor league baseball player who discovers that a great-uncle he never met has left him a large inheritance with very specific instructions: he can either take $1 million upfront, or, he has 30 days to spend $30 million if he wants to receive the larger inheritance of $300 million. Naturally, shenanigans ensue.

Townsend made his directorial debut with 1987's Hollywood Shuffle, followed by Eddie Murphy: Raw, The Five Heartbeats and Meteor Man. He was also an executive producer on the ‘90s sitcom The Parent ‘Hood, and more recently directed a couple of Bill Cosby specials.