I’m loathe to even report something as completely unsubstantiated as the rumor that’s currently floating around, but this one is too bizarre to ignore.
There are reports, shall we say, floating out of the Berlin Film Festival and suggesting that Lars Von Trier and fucking Martin Scorsese are discussing the filming of a remake of Taxi Driver, with Robert DeNiro reprising his famous role.
So here’s the thing, the “source” of this is a german magazine called Ekko, and the story quickly spread across the web, before being picked up by Empire Online. Apparently a representative of von Trier has made a “no comment pending further announcement” statement somewhere, but even that seems iffy.
If this is all complete pulled-out-of-the-air bullshit (and it very possibly is), whoever did the bullshitting made the wise choice of involving the only filmmaker who could possibly conceive of a remake to Taxi Driver, pitch it to Marty, and actually spark a film project. Lars Von Trier has engaged in remake exercises with his peers before, using his own and other’s material. As you might expect, when von Trier is involved it’s never a straightforward retelling, it’s never Hollywood, and it’s never anything of which the word “reboot” could ever come within 100 feet.
The reports make it sound like Scorsese would be actively involved, which turns this into some version of some fucked up 30-years-later Funny Games shit as well. As if this needs another layer of “huh?”
Again, rumor rumor rumor. Until it’s a year from now and von Trier has made some wildly genius remake of fucking Taxi Driver that nobody ever expected.
Weird way to start the day.
(Thanks to Bluelouboyle for starting my day with this.)
19 comments
That's "Scorsese." Three "s"s.
Yeah, I know. It's fucking early. Realized and started fixing about half a second after I hit submit.
Hmm. Not enough misogyny in Taxi Driver, I don't buy it. (Just kidding, I love you Lars.)
I think the story of a Taxi Driver follow up floats up every few years. Even Jodi Foster mentioned it earlier in the 2000s IIRC. In the sense of a sequel/follow-up, I find it hard to believe Travis Bickle would have survived this long. In the case of a remake, it's Lars vs Marty at the height of his powers = lose. It's Bobby Now vs Bobby Then = lose. The only thing Lars would likely bring is on-screen statutory rape = Lars not having any real ideas (as usual). Schraeder lost his shit decades ago, so nothing new from that quarter.
I thought Martin Scorsese said Wes Anderson was going to be his successor? Hmm… Wes Anderson remaking Taxi Driver, you say? Hmm, indeed.
…in 3D!
I actually think the rumor started in the Danish movie magazine Ekko, and as far as I know, it would be something along the lines of The Five Obstructions (imdb it), in which Lars challenged Danish director Jørgen Leth to remake one of his first movies five times, each time under severe restrictions and challenges. It actually turned out to be real interesting.
Not my beloved Taxi Driver. Hope it's BS, but if they are both involved, I'll expect something interesting.
…dats veird.
No guys, it's Taxi Driver: Port Call of New Orleans. And John Travolta will be taking over for De Niro.
I love The Five Obstructions. If this is more than just a nonsense rumor then I would be game to see something like that done with Taxi Driver, although I have no idea how it would work in the same format. "The Perfect Human" was a shorter film than Taxi Driver and didn't have a traditional narrative to speak of, so it seems more open to reinterpretation.
OMG, not another remake… who cares, I hope it get's made… two reasons. One, the original one will always be there, it's not getting destroyed, or banned. Second, there is a generation of people out there who have never seen the original, so by releasing a remake, it will get a number of people, who haven't seen the original to seek it out…
What sort of physical role can you possibly muster up out of Robert Deniro at his age of what??? 70 something???? WTF would you want to remake this?????
well, this Reuters article said that DeNiro and Scorsese want to work on a mobster drama, which doesn't sound much like Taxi Driver
http://tinyurl.com/yat7fqd
You know If they really feel the need to do anything Taxi driver related they should just make a sequel…
BREAKING NEWS!!!
Sam Worthington as Taxi Driver!!!
Dakota Fanning as Dirty Hooker!!!
Nick Nolte to reprise role as the Taxi Cab and Corpse of Peter Boyle to PLAY WIZARD ONCE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!
Gee, didn't they already try this with Observe and Report? And if failed miserably, just like every project that Seth "One Character Actor" Rogen headlines should do.
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