Unfortunately, the DVD re-releases of Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Weird Science do NOT include much desired extra features, other than trailers on the second two (Click here for screenshots of the menus for TBC). All the DVDs feature newly remastered 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfers and Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 surround tracks. Retail price of each disk is $19.95. I'm personally curious as to why the graphics of Anthony Michael Hall and Ilan Mitchell-Smith's faces were so redone on the cover of Weird Science; I liked it better the other way!

Curly Sue is now available on DVD. The disk includes widescreen format, a theatrical trailer, and a commentary by actress Alisan Porter (according to Amazon.com).

Dennis the Menace is also on DVD. Included will be the film in letterbox format, plus behind-the-scenes recordings a documentary called "A Menace Called Dennis" (I wonder if this was the TV special that aired when the movie came out in theaters?), DVD challenges and interviews with the stars and Hughes (who wrote and produced). Its sequel, Dennis the Menace Strikes Again, will also be available on VHS and DVD (Hughes was not involved with the sequel). (Info from Zaptoit.com.)

A friend of the Hughes' family has stated that Hughes is now often working under a different (and unknown) name, as a consultant on animated works.

June 11th, 2001 marked the fifteeth anniversary of the debut of Ferris Bueller (as well as the twenty-fourth anniversary of mine, heh). Wrigley Field in Chicago held a Ferris Bueller day, in which people could hang "Save Ferris" banners and whatnot. Cool!

Imogene Coca, aka "Aunt Edna" from National Lampoon's Vacation, died June 2nd, 2001 at the age of 92. Read more info about her at Yahoo News.

Eddie Bracken, aka "Roy Walley" from National Lampoon's Vacation, passed away on November 14, 2002 at the age of 87. Billie Bird (Grandma Baker from Sixteen Candles; Dennis the Menace; Home Alone), died at the age of 94 on November 27, 2002. Read more about her life at Yahoo! News.

Premiering February 2nd, 2003, on ABC was a new "Dragnet" TV series starring both Ethan Embry (Randall) and Ed O'Neill from Dutch. Visit abc.com for more info.

Hughes' project about the modern Cinderella, Maid in Manhattan, stars Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, Tyler Posey, Marissa Matrone, Natasha Richardson, Chris Eigeman, Stanley Tucci, Seth William Meier, and Bob Hoskins. Hughes wrote the original draft of the screenplay before it was taken over by Kevin Wade (Hughes had also been considering the role of the director, but Wayne Wang ultimately made it into the director's chair). It was released December 13, 2002 in the United States, and beginning at the end of February 2003 for parts of Europe.

Most Recent Updates on Films-in-Progress:

As of July 2000, Hughes was in the early stages of development of a second Breakfast Club budgeted at $25 million.

DarkHorizons.com reports the possibility of a Ferris Bueller sequel: Ferris Bueller's Day Off 2: EON Magazine talked with Sarah Jessica Parker about her role in David Mamet's new film "State and Main" and during their talk, she dropped a bit of a hint in regards to a Ferris sequel: "There's been talk of it and I know he [Broderick] has spoken to John Hughes about it. I think that there is even a script in the works but I don't know what is going to happen. That's what I've heard but I don't recall if that's what I've heard or if that's actually Matthew speaking with John. I want him to do it. I love that movie. I'd pay good money to see that movie."

Bill Paxton mentioned in an interview in late 2002 that he has done a commentary track for a Weird Science DVD. I will post more details here as soon as I hear them.

DarkHorizons.com reported in early 2003 that, according to CNN, Charlie Sheen will be appearing in a new Ferris Bueller sequel. This is all I know about it at this time, but I will keep you all posted as new details arise.

Film Projects 1999-2002 (haven't heard anything since):

Hughes is working on a movie version of TV's Family Affair. He will work with Marty Krofft, who produced the original series. Newcomer Emily Fox will write the screenplay. The pic re-teams Deutch with Hughes: The pair first worked together on the 1986 film "Pretty in Pink," which Hughes wrote and produced, and Deutch directed. They reteamed for "Some Kind of Wonderful" and "The Great Outdoors." Deutch subsequently married Lea Thompson and pursued his own projects such as "Grumpier Old Men." Emily Fox, who gained attention with her spec script "Block Heads," which placed the Peanuts gang in modern day New York, is at work on the script...

Tickets will hold off production due to the release of Detroit Rock City, a film with a similar theme: teenagers trying to score tickets to a rock concert.

There was word around early to mid-1999 of a family comedy called The Bee, featuring Jackie Chan as a farmer who's trying to get his daily work done only to be terrorized all day by a pesky bee. I haven't heard anything about it since then, however.

There were also some scanty details around late 1999 of an Australian Vacation movie with Chevy Chase already involved in the planning stages. That's all I know about it so far, though. I'll post any more news as it comes.

Here's an article of interest about a new project:

Hughes tracks 'Grisbeys' pitch
By Zorianna Kit

LOS ANGELES (The Hollywood Reporter) --- Revolution Studios has teamed with filmmaker John Hughes on an original family comedy pitch, "The Grisbeys," which Hughes will write and produce.

The project is about a very wealthy family that loses all of its money and has to move to the other side of the tracks at Christmas.

Revolution executive Greg Silverman is overseeing the project.

Chicago-based Hughes, repped by WMA, most recently helmed 1991's "Curly Sue" for Warner Bros., which he also wrote and produced.

During his 18-year career, Hughes has written and produced two dozen films, including the three "Home Alone" films, "Flubber," "101 Dalmatians" and "Dennis the Menace."

His writing credits also include "The Visitors," "Uncle Buck," "Planes, Trains & Automobiles," "Mr. Mom," a remake of "A Miracle on 34th Street" and three films in the "National Lampoon" franchise.

Hughes is best known for his mid-1980s films, which include "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "Weird Science," "The Breakfast Club" and "Sixteen Candles," all of which he also wrote.

(Hollywood Reporter - 2002)