Del Toro Gets Busy. Poo-tee-tweet
The most interesting item in reports of Guillermo del Toro’s new four-picture deal with Universal is news that he’s going to make another version of Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five. I don’t think George Roy Hill’s 1972 adaptation gets enough respect, but I’m interested to see del Toro’s take on the material. According to the Variety report, the director says, “There are ways that Vonnegut plays with and juxtaposes time that was perhaps too edgy to be tackled on film at that time.”
In addition to Slaughterhouse, del Toro will be bringing Universal properties Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde back to the big screen for the millionth time (yawn) and he’ll also be directing Drood, an adaptation of the Dan Simmons novel about Charles Dickens.
Also according to the Variety piece, “the studio still has its sights set on del Toro’s pet project, an adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness.”
Filed under: Development, News
I see he’s following the Peter Jackson made-it-big pattern of using his clout to do remakes I either don’t care about or wish he’d avoid, plus the occasional serious dramatic departure.
Ouch…A part of me thinks “Slaughterhouse-Five” should not be touched. Hill’s adaptation was fantastic — even Vonnegut went out of his way to say this every time he was asked about cinematic adaptations of his work. Still…with del Toro attached, well, the result could be remarkable.
By the way, wasn’t Leo attached to a “Cat’s Cradle” film adaptation a while ago?
I’m going to remain optimistic about Slaughterhouse. It may not be as good as the first version or as good as the novel, but it’s a fascinating source for some interesting filmmaking. It also feels like something of a departure for del Toro.
The rest? I’m actually a little disappointed in Frankenstein and Jekyll. Fine stories. Seen ‘em a million times. I’m sure del Toro’s take would be interesting, but I’d rather see something that springs fresh from his imagination.
Dorothy, that’s kind of ringing a bell…but I don’t know. Anyone else?
And why am I not surprised you love the Hill Slaughterhouse? Seems like there aren’t many of us.
If anyone is going to do those remakes, it’s Del Toro. I don’t see any problem reimagining Frankenstein or Jekyll/Hyde — he surely can’t do any worse than Mary Reilly (not horrible, but mediocre) or that silly USA tv-movie.
I’d much rather see original horror movies from him in the vein of Cronos or his Spanish Civil War films. But, until he feeds us something truly putrid, I’m open to anything he brings to the table.
Hollywood love remakes. I’m sure it was 500 times easier for him to do those remakes, whether producing or directing, than get sign off on original material.
And I’ll spare you my 500th rant on the lack of original material in Hollywood. That said, I concur that hearing about those doesn’t get me excited at all. Mountains of Madness, yes.
GIVE ME SOMETHING NEW!!!!
I know, Craig. It’s odd. But the biggest tribute is, of course, that Vonnegut himself was such a fan of the film:
“I love George Roy Hill and Universal Pictures, who made a flawless translation of my novel Slaughterhouse-Five to the silver screen … I drool and cackle every time I watch that film, because it is so harmonious with what I felt when I wrote the book.” Kurt Vonnegut (thanks, Wikipedia!).
That’s the thing about that movie, it very much captured the tone and spirit of a very difficult to film novel.
I also kind of like Catch-22 in that way, though I’ll admit it was less successful overall. Still, it’s one of my favorite double features with Slaughterhouse.
WJ, there’s a reasonable chance the Frankenstein and Jekyll movies will be terrific, like Joel I’d just like to see something original.
Catch 22 is fantastic. I’ve got it at home.
I LOVE ALAN ARKIN. Have my entire life.
And MIKE NICHOLS is a genius.
The insanity of war….
I haven’t seen Catch-22. Will check it out after recommendations by two highly esteemed colleagues :)
The George Roy Hill version of Slaughterhouse-Five is underrated.
I thought DiCaprio was interested in having it remade? Or am I confusing it with the Cat’s Cradle thing Dorothy brings up?
Ouch–Harvey’s point stings because there’s definitely truth to it.
Hah Alexander, I think we’re all afflicted with the sense that Leo is going to be in everything.
I’m pretty skeptical about this story. It’s very unusual for a studio to give anybody such a long term deal. I’m betting that Universal has some sort of out in this contract where they can dump Del Toro if a single one of these films isn’t successful.
From the WaPo:
Leonardo DiCaprio has optioned Kurt Vonnegut ’s dystopian novel “Cat’s Cradle,” Variety reported last week. DiCaprio’s Appian Way production company has tapped “Contact” screenwriter James V. Hart and his son, Jake Hart , to write the script. Published in 1963, “Cat’s Cradle” was described on its dust jacket as “an apocalyptic tale of this planet’s ultimate fate.”
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/09/AR2005070901414_2.html But this is from 3 years back. It sure looks like the project is stalled.
IMDbPro has it listed as “In Development” with a 2009 release date. Last updated April 2008.
For what that’s worth.
alynch, you’re probably right. I don’t know the business end of things…at all…but it would be surprising if both sides were irrevocably committed.
Look at you, going all premium with IMDbPro :P Thanks for the update!
It’s not a remake, but get ready for:
GHOSTBUSTERS 3!
A better idea than Bev Cop 4, but I won’t be seeing it.
Well, I take that back. If Bill Murray’s in it…mmmmmmmaybe.
Catch-22 is a big, beautiful failure … and yet it’s fascinating on a completely separate level as a representation of what can happen when a wunderkind is given the freedom and the wherewithall to just go hog wild.
I’m a huge fan of Steven Soderbergh’s commentaries and I think the one he does with Nichols for “Catch” is one of the best I’ve ever heard from anybody.
Soderbergh indeed gives good commentary, but I haven’t listened to the one for Catch. I should correct that soon.