It wasn’t long ago when Japanese developer Dragami Games issued the surprise announcement that audacious cult-favorite zombie slasher Lollipop Chainsaw was coming “back,” following the game’s long-dormant availability on seventh-generation consoles. While little information was uttered regarding the revival, studio head and producer Yoshimi Yasuda has now confirmed a full Lollipop Chainsaw remake is now officially in development.

In a letter posted on Twitter, Yasuda confirmed that after recently purchasing the Lollipop Chainsaw IP, much of the original development team is currently underway on the project, with WB Games also said to be returning as publisher. Set for release in 2023, the Lollipop Chainsaw remake is being made with the “higher specifications” of modern consoles in mind and will feature “a more realistic approach to graphics” when compared to the original.

Billed as the over-the-top love child of No More Heroes creator Suda51 and a pre-Suicide Squad James Gunn, the 2012 release of Lollipop Chainsaw introduced fans to the sparkly yet spunky Juliet Starling, a bubbly cheerleader with a prowess for hunting hordes of the undead. This juxtapositious premise made for some outrageous gameplay and oodles of humorous dialogue that could only the architects of Travis Touchdown and DC’s Peacemaker could deliver.

As over a decade has passed, Yasuda confirmed some elements would have to be “different” for the Lollipop Chainsaw remake, such as the game’s frequent use of licensed songs, in which only “a few” are expected to return. Presumably due to the high cost of usage rights, the rest of the game’s 15-song soundtrack is now set to “consist of new music” instead. However, a much more significant change appears to be the lack of involvement of three OG personnel – namely, Suda51, James Gunn, and Tara Strong.

The trio responded to the announcement on social media, with Suda51 confirming he and Grasshopper Manufacture has “nothing to do with” the Lollipop Chainsaw remake. The response from writer James Gunn was similar, saying “no one ever approached us about it” and that he only found out from Suda “a couple weeks ago.” Juliet voice actress Tara Strong chimed in as well, saying “same,” suggesting she was not approached to return in her role either.

All in all, a Lollipop Chainsaw remake seems like great news for fans as it allows the game’s awaited resurgence with a much-needed modern coat of paint. The lack of involvement from Suda51, James Gunn, and Tara Strong definitely isn’t ideal, but these omissions could easily be reversed as development progresses. Putting on my speculation hat, it’s possible Dragami Games could be planning to stick so closely to the original (reusing designs, story elements, voice lines, etc.), that none of them would be required for the remake. We’ll have to see what happens.

What do you think? Are you excited about the idea of a Lollipop Chainsaw remake, or would you have preferred a simple re-release for the classic zombie-slasher title? Let us know in the comments below and be sure to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter and Facebook to be informed of the latest gaming and entertainment news 24 hours a day!​