Universal’s remake of the 1977 comedy classic Slap Shot is officially moving forward because it now has a director onboard.

Dean Parisot, known for directing films such as the Jim Carrey comedy Fun with Dick and Jane, Home Fries, which starred Luke Wilson and Drew Barrymore, and sci-fi parody GalaxyQuest, will be the man in charge of the picture.

The original starred Paul Newman as the fading player/coach of a minor league hockey team who, desperate to keep the team going, comes up with the idea to turn his team into a group of fighting hooligans. The Charlestown Chiefs put the Hanson brothers, played by David Hanson, Steve Carlson and Jeff Carlson, in the center ring to create mayhem and fun, eventually winning the hearts of fans.

Peter Steinfeld, who penned the films Drowning Mona, Analyze That, Be Cool and 21, is set to write the screenplay with Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall will produce.

Kennedy and Marshall recently produced The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and The Spiderwick Chronicles.

The film has two direct-to-disc sequels. Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice came out in 2002 and starred Stephen Baldwin and Gary Busey, and last year, Slap Shot 3: The Junior League starred Leslie Nielsen.

No word on when production on the remake will begin.

Author: Tessa Petrocco (Source: The Moving Picture)