On today’s episode of “Daily Variety” podcast, “Scary Movie” director Michael Tiddes explains how he came to be trusted with the revival of Shawn and Marlon Wayans’ beloved horror comedy franchise. And Tiddes details the extras in the extended director’s cut of the Paramount and Miramax film that bowed today on PVOD platforms.
Tiddes, who’s past feature directing credits include 2017’s “Naked,” 2019’s “Sextuplets” and 2024’s “Half Baked: Totally High,” began his career as an assistant to brothers Marlon and Shawn Wayans. That gig inevitably brought him into contact with the extended family of comedy stars. The return of “Scary Movie” was meaningful because the brothers had lost the rights to the property in the early aughts amid a dispute with then-Miramax chief Harvey Weinstein.
“I was lucky enough to start my career working for the Wayans and as an assistant and was able to be behind the scenes with these guys when they were doing [2004’s] ‘White Chicks’ and [2006’s] ‘Little Man’ and really see how they made the magic happen,” Tiddes explains. “This movie was a fantastic full circle for both of us because the Wayans had lost this franchise a number of years ago and now rightfully gotten it back. So for that, I was extremely happy because ‘Scary Movie’ was back with the original guys who created the franchise, where it belongs. And when they called me and told me that they trusted me as the only guy they could see taking over the helm of their biggest franchise — I was speechless and excited. It was cloud nine for me.”
