Last month we reported that super producer Michael Bay was on his way to remaking Alfred Hitchcock’s oddly ending horror/thriller classic The Birds. This month he’s ducking his head and running for cover.

In a recent junket for The Island attended by Sci-Fi Wire, Bay got evasive when asked about the project. “I don't want to talk about The Birds, because that's so far down the line, and I have misgivings about even trying to even do that, you know what I'm saying?” said Bay. Sounds like a man whose been taking a lot of flack.

In fact, even fellow junket attendee Scarlett Johansson reacted with shock at the idea, prompting Bay to backpedal further with the comment, “You can't believe everything you read. It doesn't mean it's going to happen.” When you’re in a tight corner, always blame the media. I’m a little sick of that response. When Johansson protested further, Bay continued his qualification by again adding, “Yeah, it's a slippery slope when you do remakes.”

Read the rest of what Michael had to say, including his quick save in which he turns attention to Kubrick by clicking here to visit Sci-Fi Wire’s full story.

I’m still not aghast at the idea of remaking The Birds. Touching Rear Window now that was a mistake, but it was Christopher Reeves doing and we tend to give handicapped people a pass, even when they’re doing really bad things. After all, the guy was in a wheel chair, how many starring opportunities were there for him out there? But I’ve never been totally happy with The Birds and wouldn’t mind seeing something made that sticks closer to the original short story work on which Hitch’s movie was based.

Special thanks to Cinescape's David Michael Wharton for the tip.