After being in development for some time, (another) remake of Scarface looks to have landed its director. With the originally rumored David Yates off working on Tarzan, The Wrap reports that Universal are in talks with Pablo Larrain for the project. The Chilean director is coming off his acclaimed drama No and would now move to this updated tale, which reportedly follows a Mexican immigrant traversing around and amongst his Los Angeles’ drug cartels. Scripted by Paul Attanasio (Donnie Brasco), the production is looking to cast an “authentic Latino,” and are even open to a newcomer; with this talented helmer on board, perhaps he can indeed direct a worthwhile new version.
In other reboot news, after helping Peter Jackson not only on the acting front with The Lord of the Rings, but with second unit directing on his The Hobbit trilogy, Andy Serkis will be taking the helming chair for a major project. According to THR, he’s been set to direct WB’s new take on The Jungle Book, once rumored for Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and Ron Howard. Not to be confused with Disney’s dueling project, coming from Jon Favreau, this will also utilize motion capture, something Serkis is all too familiar with. The talent will next be seen in this summer’s Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and one can see a new behind-the-scenes still from that below, thanks to Empire.
Lastly, a press release informs us that Paramount have set Anchorman and Step Brothers director Adam McKay to helm and script The Big Short, coming from Moneyball author Michael Lewis. Focusing on the housing and credit bubble of the 2000s, it seems like initially odd material for the director, but he’s clearly passionate about such economic issues, even if they are handled a bit too obvious in The Other Guys. With Brad Pitt‘s Plan B also on board, they say, “There are those rare literary treasures – as with The Big Short – that park in the harbor and you just wait, with hope. Adam McKay is a singular voice and talent and a ferocious mind – the vector of Adam and this book is what a producer dreams of.”
Which of the above projects are you most looking forward to?