TheScarfaceremakeis once again looking for a new director. Universal Pictures has been working for years to put together a new take on theScarfacestory, running through a variety of filmmakers who’ve come and gone that range fromAntoine Fuqua(The Equalizer) toPablo Larrain(Jackie), and in the early days of the project, evenHarry PotterfilmmakerDavid Yates. The studio aimed to try again by signingSuicide SquaddirectorDavid Ayerthis past spring, setting him to pen a new script for the remake which switches the Miami setting to Los Angeles.
But nowTHRreports that Ayer, like so many before him, has fallen off the project. Ayer’s take on the script was reportedly “too dark” for Universal’s taste (althoughVarietycites “scheduling issues” as the reason for his exit), which is interesting considering this is the story of a violent, misogynistic drug dealer. Ayer is known for a certain amount of grit in his screenplays for films likeTraining DayandEnd of Watch, but apparently Universal doesn’t want to gotoodark forScarface, which means we’re likely in for some lame “anti-hero” nonsense that tries to portray the protagonist as someone to root for. Granted,Brian De Palma’s 1983 remake has its own issues, but I was curious to see if Universal would “go there” with this new adaptation, and it sounds like they want something more palatable.
Diego Lunais still attached to lead the film, which Universal recently set for release in August 2018, and now the studio will start the search anew for a director. As recently as this past February, the film had a new script byJoelandEthan Coen, and other filmmakers they considered before Ayer includedPete BergandHell or High WaterdirectorDavid Mackenzie, so it’ll be interesting to see if they go back to directors they spoke with in the past, or if they’ll look for someone new.
As for Ayer, it’s unclear what his next move will be. He’s wrapping up post-production on his Netflix fantasy thrillerBrightwithWill SmithandJoel Edgertonand is attached to write and direct the DC spinoffGotham City SirensstarringMargot Robbie, but that movie doesn’t yet have a release date and Robbie’s schedule is stacked. Warner Bros. has alsoreportedly zeroed inonJaume Collet-Serrato directSuicide Squad 2, so it’s unlikely he’s returning for that sequel.
