There's enough charactors & story in this terrific film to extend into a mini or limited series. The tech of cinema has advanced enough to really make stunts come to life in ways that would make Eli proud. It could sustain the "Fugitive" element or go for the "carnivale" vibe in handling Eli & his film crew. This is such a great movie, a new version for a new generation seems only natural.
Yes, but without O'Toole there to reprise Eli every week it just wouldn't fly, now would it? And sad to say that, now in his '70's, even O'Toole just couldn't make it work like he did back in '78.
shareYou'd be amazed to know how many young people don't know who POT is or what TSM was. That was more than a generation back! A remake could fly. And as a series, I'd watch.
"There's my buttercup!"
I have to say I disagree with your basic point. It's not the shadow of O'Toole being overcome (or not) that's a problem for me - the way that perhaps, had I not had Patrick McGooghan's legendary performance stamped in my mind, I might be able to see someone else as No. 6, but now, forget it - but it's simply that the role of Eli COMPLETELY falls to sh!t without him. LOL!!! Take a look at the thing again. I'm convinced that it was written for him - because it's hardly written at all. There really is no there, there, w/o O'Toole. Eli isn't a character, he's a presence. What can you tell me about Eli, except "ego maniac," "doesn't care if people die," (see "ego maniac"), "likes to *beep* with people's heads (ditto) and "had an affair with Barbara Hersey's character?" They say you can't play a hair color; well, O'Toole can, or he could if he wanted to, and he certainly could play a lot of stereotypes, on and off screen - drunk, Irishman, playboy, Arab sheik, medieval king, movie director...with such a verve and bravado that we ate it ALL up with a spoon. He was the type of artist whose self-invention reached so beyond the hackneyed that no one ever batted a lash at many of these choices, but think about them, really, and compare them to some of his RADA classmates. Peter painted in very broad strokes, and he wasn't terribly original most of the time. His genius, and I use this word in its strongest possible sense, is that we never effing noticed.
shareI loved POT in TSM (& just about everything else he's done) but the charactor of "Eli" existed before the oscar nominated performance by a legendary actor. And that brilliant story should be retold for a new generation. The language of film (like it or not) has evolved since this was made and as fine a film as it is a lot of this generation simply will not invest their time with it cuz it doesnt look like "300". The original "King Kong"is thebest version period. Do I not want new versions to be made? Hell no! That legend should be told and retold and kept alive. Same with "The Stunt man". and the best way to extend that mythology would be a prestige mini series, although the charactors could easily sustain an ongoing series.
"There's my buttercup!"
A series? "Gee, Eli, how are you going to trick me into a dangerous stunt this week?"
shareEli: "Keep in mind, dear Lucky, I happen to know you're on the run from everyone including the police and the FBI. What's one more stunt for you to pull, eh? Now, how tall is King Kong?"
Honestly, you wouldn't have to have it be the "stunt of the week." One of the things that made the film interesting is the characters, not the making of the film. The premiere episode could be a remake of the film, and the ending of the episode showing Cameron boarding the plane to L.A. (made mention of in the film) with Nina, leading to an expansion of seeing not just what its like to make a movie, but possibly leading into what it's like to live and work in the film industry, and leading Cameron to not only work as stunt man on other Eli Cross films, but working on other films (where he learns there's directors even more insane than Eli) and leading even further down the illusionary rabbit hole. We can also see more of Nina's end, seeing how she deals with preparing for a role or working in films and how much of a toll it takes on hers and Cameron's relationship, and even show Eli dealing with the one thing he can never manipulate: his ex-wife (his marriage failing was mentioned in the film, which could have been caused by his attempts to manipulate his wife like he does everyone else on the set, or more likely for the fact that he was never really at home).
Honestly, a remake would be pretty decent if properly casted. I think Liam Neeson or Ralph Fiennes could make an interesting Eli Cross (in my opinion, of course).
But this one's eating my popcorn!