Rocky Horror to be remade without O'Brien

Cult film The Rocky Horror Picture Show is set to do the time warp once again with movie bosses announcing a remake.

The film, which was first released 33 years ago, will be partly financed by Sky Movies in the UK but initial reports that Richard O'Brien would be involved in the project have been been dismissed.

The writer and co-star of the original production told the BBC that he would not be involved in the project "in any way".

He added: "I have no view on whether it should be remade but it doesn't have my blessing,"

The cast and director of the new version are yet to be announced but Lou Adler, the original executive producer of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, is set to return in the same role.

Adler said: "The Rocky Horror phenomenon has a life of its own that has reincarnated itself in numerous ways since its birth." He added: "Our hope has always been that each new endeavour and rebirth will expose the Rocky Horror experience to new audiences and expand the fan base."

The 1975 version of the film is the longest running cinematic theatrical release of all time and cost just $1.2m to make while raking in an estimated $140m at the box office.

Jim Sharman, who co-wrote the original screenplay and directed the film, said: "The original has some qualities that can't be reproduced but a remake could have its own very different strengths and qualities."

The film started life as stage musical The Rocky Horror Show in 1973 and has become something of a kitsch classic in recent years with large numbers of costumed fans drawn to midnight screenings around the world. However, the remaking of classic movies has become something of a Hollywood cliché in recent years with a number of high profile flops.