Update: It’s a big week for Tim Hill it seems. He’s also in talks to direct Walter the Farting Dog!

Looks like that pesky little Short Circuit remake is alive once again after spending a couple of years stuck in development hell. Paul Blart: Mall Cop director Steve Carr was most recently attached to the project with Dan Milano (Robot Chicken) writing the script, however, Dimension Films has since decided to bring in some new blood to offer a fresh approach. According to Deadline, they have hired Tim Hill (Hop, Alvin and the Chipmunks) to direct and oversee a new script.

The fact that Hill has a lot of experience with live action / CG hybrids virtually guarantees that this is the approach they will take with the film. While it’s not particularly surprising, it is a bit of a shame that today’s kids will only know a fully computer-generated Johnny 5, especially since the animatronic work in the original film is quite impressive and still holds up today. Transformers and Real Steel have proven that CG can generate giant robot battles, but can they handle a smaller scale character that tugs at your heart strings?

Either way, I’m actually kind of interested in seeing what they do with a Short Circuit remake. There are some cool ideas in there, even if it’s just a goofy fish-out-of-water comedy made for kids. I think I’m most curious to find out which actual human beings will star in this film. Who will be this generation’s Steve Guttenberg and Ally Sheedy? Only time will tell.