As many people may have noticed retold fairytales and superhero stories have recently become popular in media. It seems to me that the reason for this is the same in both cases.
There is something immensely comfortable in hearing/seeing/reading a story that you are familiar with. Why else would little kids love to read the same books over and over again, and often seem far more likely to pick up a book about a character they know (The Bernstein Bears, Clifford) then a book with characters they don't know. For one it's easier to get into a book with a character that you already know and care about, even if the character isn't quite the same. Also, when you know that Cinderella will meet Prince Charming you know what to expect. And that works no matter if Cinderella is really a princess named Cinderella (Disney), is the daughter of a courtier named Danielle (Ever After) or is a cyborg named Cinder (Cinder).
Then you can add to the comfort of a story or character you know the excitement that comes with the twist or new view of what you thought you had already known. It allows something old and worn to become clever and surprising. It is like the best of both worlds, familiar but also new. Is it any wonder these two genres are so popular?
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