So, you've made it into Hollywood (using this more as a general term) and the studio has offered you the chance to make your dream project. No interference from executive producers, basically all the money you need and then some to get all the effects and actors you want. A top of the line marketing team to make sure people will be in theaters for the first week with the added bounce of behind the scenes talks with the cast and crew to further hype up the film. And on top of all that all the time you need to get it done with no real deadline.
There's just one catch, you have to make another film first. That film being a remake of The Princess Bride.
Keep in mind this is your one and only shot to make it into show busyness, if you don't make this film then you have no way to make the film you actually care about or any movie at all. You want your dreams to come true you HAVE to make this remake of beloved classic.
You are given free reign in how to make this film so you have room to maneuver but this is a project working against you in every way, shape and form because it's a movie no one wants to see and the studio only wants it made to make money. On top of that this is a film most of us can agree is as close to perfect as a film can get so you have to find a way to make this work.
And keep in mind the fans of this film are not going to be behind you, they love the original and they don't like that your trying to replace the original, even if that's not what your doing and have no desire do that, they won't see it that way.
So, you have a film you don't want to do but have to in order to get a chance to make the film you actually want to make with a fanbase that's against you and if you half ass this there's a good chance that this will ruin your reputation and destroy your soul.
In other words, you either walk away from everything you've spent your whole life trying to achieve or make this film and if you're going to do it you're going to have to make sure it as good as the original.
I've mentioned something like this before but for me I would basically do a sorta Foreign Remake idea, going for a Wuxia style movie like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon or House of Flying Daggers. This does two things, first it allows me to make my own version of the story standout from the original so while they share the overall story this is clearly a different film from the original. This is not a Ben-Hur situation where I'm trying to "Update" and "Improve" on the original only for it to clearly be a weak copy of the original.
Second this has a better chance of getting people interested in the movie as it's seeing a classic from the point of view of another culture. Sure I'm not Chinese myself but I would do my best to make sure this was respectful to the Chinese. Get Chinese actors, shot in China (if I can) get someone who knows how to shot a Wuxia action scenes and have the dialogue be in Chinese.
Imagine the scene between Wesley and Inigo as the latter talks about his backstory showing his Jian at Qingshui Cliff. Imagine the daring rescue of Buttercup being shot at Hengdian World Studios at the recreation of the Forbidden City or the sword duel between Wesley and Inigo done like this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxJiE5EKnD0
So, I personally would jump at the chance because even if I don't hit the mark no one can call my version a lazy rehash and I have a chance to work on something I love and still have a chance of making a good first impression.
Thoughts?
Hypothetical Question: To Make Your Dream Project You Have to Make a Remake of a Iconic Film. Would You Do It?
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CharlesPhipps
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Re: Hypothetical Question: To Make Your Dream Project You Have to Make a Remake of a Iconic Film. Would You Do It?
I imagine directors make these kind of deals all the time to get the credibility they want.
"I want you to make the new Spider-Man."
"YES!"
"but first you have to remake THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN THE TEXAS."
"Err...okay."
"I want you to make the new Spider-Man."
"YES!"
"but first you have to remake THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN THE TEXAS."
"Err...okay."
Re: Hypothetical Question: To Make Your Dream Project You Have to Make a Remake of a Iconic Film. Would You Do It?
Eh, I don't care. Remake it any way I want? Fine, world's getting The Muppet Princess Bride. Fezzik can be the token human.
Re: Hypothetical Question: To Make Your Dream Project You Have to Make a Remake of a Iconic Film. Would You Do It?
I was thinking Princess Bride but in anime!
I got nothing to say here.
Re: Hypothetical Question: To Make Your Dream Project You Have to Make a Remake of a Iconic Film. Would You Do It?
What kind of anime? Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon or One Piece?
Re: Hypothetical Question: To Make Your Dream Project You Have to Make a Remake of a Iconic Film. Would You Do It?
Thinking more of a exaggerated one. Maybe make it satirical.
Dragonball style wouldn't work at all. First of all it was originally more of a joke style manga. Also once you get into the more serious martial arts stuff that eventually leads to basically pure power stuff, just wouldn't work with a fantasy style that is Princess Bride.
I got nothing to say here.
Re: Hypothetical Question: To Make Your Dream Project You Have to Make a Remake of a Iconic Film. Would You Do It?
My first thought for remaking the Princess Bride?
Cary Elwes as the grandfather telling the tale. Use David and Clark from Sellsword Arts for Wesley and Ignio Montoya so you can keep up the strong sword fighter dynamic.
Have the grand father telling this because the power is out due to a storm. Follow the main script as faithfully as you can without scene for scene reshots.
End of the movie have Robin Wright as the grandma come to pick up grandpa. He smiles and says "As you wish."
Giving the movie the homage to the original it should be.
So when it hits theaters people come out saying that whether it is a hit or a miss you took it with genuine sincerity.
Cary Elwes as the grandfather telling the tale. Use David and Clark from Sellsword Arts for Wesley and Ignio Montoya so you can keep up the strong sword fighter dynamic.
Have the grand father telling this because the power is out due to a storm. Follow the main script as faithfully as you can without scene for scene reshots.
End of the movie have Robin Wright as the grandma come to pick up grandpa. He smiles and says "As you wish."
Giving the movie the homage to the original it should be.
So when it hits theaters people come out saying that whether it is a hit or a miss you took it with genuine sincerity.
Re: Hypothetical Question: To Make Your Dream Project You Have to Make a Remake of a Iconic Film. Would You Do It?
I like the idea someone once made:
Make it the Grandpa reading being Fred Savage now reading it to his now grandchild. I mean Fred Savage is 48 but he could pull it off, grandfathers don't need to be gray haired men anymore.
Anyway Fred Savage reads to his granddaughter the same book who is annoyed she can't play on her phone or tablet. When it comes to the scenes of Princess Bride, it's just a remastered upscaled version of the original.
That's it.
Make it the Grandpa reading being Fred Savage now reading it to his now grandchild. I mean Fred Savage is 48 but he could pull it off, grandfathers don't need to be gray haired men anymore.
Anyway Fred Savage reads to his granddaughter the same book who is annoyed she can't play on her phone or tablet. When it comes to the scenes of Princess Bride, it's just a remastered upscaled version of the original.
That's it.
I got nothing to say here.
Re: Hypothetical Question: To Make Your Dream Project You Have to Make a Remake of a Iconic Film. Would You Do It?
I don't know, that one seems kinda lazy to me.McAvoy wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2025 2:30 am I like the idea someone once made:
Make it the Grandpa reading being Fred Savage now reading it to his now grandchild. I mean Fred Savage is 48 but he could pull it off, grandfathers don't need to be gray haired men anymore.
Anyway Fred Savage reads to his granddaughter the same book who is annoyed she can't play on her phone or tablet. When it comes to the scenes of Princess Bride, it's just a remastered upscaled version of the original.
That's it.
