There have been nine Hellraiser films to date, with the last five going straight to DVD. I didn't make it past number five, Hellraiser: Inferno, but I've been reliably informed that I haven't missed much by not venturing further.

With the series slowly spirally into the ground, a remake is, unsurprisingly, the next step but what is perhaps surprising is that writer and star of the first film will be back again for the remake.

I'm sure that will prove to be very confusing for all those people who have knee jerk negative reactions to any news about remakes.

Clive Barker announced the news on his official Facebook page today. Here's what he had to say in full,

HOT FROM HELL! My friends,I have some news which may be of interest to you. A few weeks ago I had a very productive meeting with Bob Weinstein of Dimension Pictures,in the course of which I pitched a remake of the first HELLRAISER film. The idea of my coming back to the original film and telling the story with a fresh intensity-honoring the structure and the designs from the first incarnation but hopefully creating an even darker and richer film-was attractive to Dimension. Today I have officially been invited to write the script based upon that pitch.What can I tell you about it?Well, it will not be a film awash with CGI. I remain as passionate about the power of practical make-up effects as I was when I wrote and directed the first HELLRAISER. Of course the best make-up in the world loses force if not inhabited by a first-rate actor. I told the Dimension team that in my opinion there could never be a Pinhead without Doug Bradley,and much to my delight Bob Weinstein agreed. So once the papers are signed , I will open a Lemarchand Configuration,dip my quill in its contents and start writing . I promise that there will be nowhere on the Internet where the news of my progress will be more reliable than here ,because the only author of these reports will be Your Infernal Corespondent ,me. My very best wishes to you all,my friends. Clive.