Universal Pictures has been trying to get anewScarfaceremakeoff the ground for years, but it now appears as though the studio is willing to go an interesting route rather than an expected one.Luca Guadagnino, the Oscar-nominated filmmaker behind lush films likeCall Me By Your NameandA Bigger Splash, is currently attached to direct the film, and he has ambitious R-rated plans for the material.
Speaking withBadTaste.itat the Venice Film Festival (in Italian and translated to English), Guadagnino said what appeals to him about doingScarfaceis the Tony Montana character as an archetype, and as a way to tell a story about the American Dream in the current era, just asHoward Hawks’ 1932 original andBrian De Palma’s 1983 remake were of their time:
“The truth is that I’m interested in the Tony Montana character. He’s a symptom of the American Dream. And I think that these movies are made for their times. My ownScarfacewill arrive 40 years after the previous one. I think the important thing about these movies is not the fact that they’re lush and fundamental like Brian De Palma’s one. The important thing is knowing that Tony Montana is an archetypal character.”
Guadagnino spoke about the controversial violence in Hawks’ original film, and how its depiction of evil made audiences turn up in droves:
“Remember when [Hawks’ movie] opened, it was accompanied by titles that said, ‘The filmmakers don’t endorse criminal behavior.’ That movie was sensational, hugely popular. Probably more than De Palma’s movie, in proportion. It’s almost 100 years that Tony Montana affects the imagination of the audience, and this happens in part because we are attracted by what is capable of producing evil. And in part because we want to make something bigger than ourselves. It’s about the dream of fulfilling, of success.”
So when telling his own version of this story, Guadagnino laid out three keys to success:
“The important things are A. It has to be well done, the script has to be great – and it is. B. Our Tony Montana has to be current. I don’t want to imitate anything. C. This movie has to be shocking.”
To the latter point, Guadagnino brought up his striking remake of the horror filmSuspiria(which is sorely underrated and on Amazon Prime now) and revealed that he intends for hisScarfaceto be a hard R-rated film:
“I told you aboutSuspiriaand I kept the promise to you then, [and] I think I will surprise you with this movie too. Brian De Palma’s movie was Rated R, so I want a big R on my movie too.”
It’s unclear exactly when this newScarfacewill happen, but it sounds like Guadagnino is ready to go. He’s about to release his HBO limited seriesWe Are Who We Areand is also attached to direct anew adaptation ofLord of the Flies, but one imagines Universal will be keen on getting this newScarfaceremake ready in time for the 40th anniversary of De Palma’s film in 2023. And Guadagnino has a real knack for creating all-encompassing worlds that envelop the audience, so I really can’t wait to see him put his stamp on the American Dream.
