Revenge Of The Nerds: Why The 2007 Remake Was Canceled

Released in 1984, "Revenge of the Nerds" follows brainiac friends Lewis Skolnick (Robert Carradine) and Gilbert Lowe (Anthony Edwards) as they pursue computer science degrees at Adams College. However, campus life is short-lived for the duo and their classmates when members of the jock-filled Alpha Beta fraternity carelessly burn down their house and kick the freshman students out of their dorms because they now need a place to stay.

Unbeknownst to the Alpha Betas, they've sparked another fire with their heartless move, but this time in the bellies of the so-called "nerds." Fed up with being bullied for their looks and academic interests, the nerds — armed only with their brilliant brains — start their own fraternity chapter and conceive a path to revenge against their jock tormentors.

While "Revenge of the Nerds" easily makes the list of '80s movie hits that haven't aged well because of its controversial sexual content, that hasn't prevented filmmakers in Hollywood from trying to remake the campus comedy classic. In fact, production on a "Revenge of the Nerds" remake commenced in 2006, though it didn't last long.

Sources told Variety that Peter Rice — the head of the film's studio, Fox Atomic — pulled the plug two weeks into filming because he felt the dailies didn't live up to the expectations he envisioned for the project. "Everybody worked very hard on 'Revenge of the Nerds,' and we're all extremely disappointed that we can't move forward," he said.

Fox Atomic's "Revenge of the Nerds" remake wasn't the first attempt to keep the 1984 film's legacy alive. The 1987 sequel, "Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise," features many of the original film's stars, including Robert Carradine and Anthony Edwards, albeit the latter in a smaller role. Two made-for-TV sequels — 1992's "Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation" and 1994's "Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love" — also feature the core cast, minus Edwards. Additionally, a "Revenge of the Nerds" TV pilot was filmed in 1991 but wasn't picked up.

While it's been close to 30 years since the last "Revenge of the Nerds" movie, there's still hope for a franchise comeback. In December 2020, "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane said he was rebooting "Revenge of the Nerds" with identical twin brother comedians Keith Lucas and Kenny Lucas (of "22 Jump Street" fame) in the lead roles. The reboot will not be taking the 1984 film's route, which includes a depiction of rape by deception. Instead, it will aim to be an exploration of the nerd culture and being a nerd in the modern day. MacFarlane's "Nerds" reboot is currently in development, with the writer's IMDb Pro profile listing him as a producer with the status of the film in the "pitch" phase.

If you or anyone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, help is available. Visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN's National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).