batman

While browsing the IMDB I came across news that the American writer/director Robert Towne (Chinatown) is toying with the idea of doing a new version of The 39 Steps. I may be in a minority but I think this is good news.
Each of the previous versions is a product of their own decade and as such stand up as individually entertaining. A new version for the 'noughties' would be very interesting and exciting.
Towne is an accomplished writer, a very competent director with a flair for dialogue and has the ability to get good performances from his actors. If he is on form this could be a cracker.
Of course a lot would depend on the casting. I have always thought Ralph Fiennes would make an excellent Hannay. He is handsome, dashing and has just the right amount of upper crust. He also proved in Strange Days that he can handle the athletic stuff. In the female lead I suggest Rosamund Pike.
What do you think?

I wish I had claws.

DB7

You could probably pull it off with a good director, cast and budget but this appears (there's an exisiting topic somewhere else) to be a cash-in on the name and I half-expect it to go straight to video.

Robert Altman would have been a good choice as Gosford Park was better than many of the recent period pieces.

batman

Do you mean an existing thread on this Forum?

I wish I had claws.

ChristineCB

The mention of "period piece" makes me first ask, "What? They couldn't do a 39-Step Program - er, 39 Steps - in contemporary times?"

In any case, Good will be Good and everything else will be garbage. I have been enjoying the Danny Boyle clippings because he's said things that made me think he wanted to do a sequel as good or better than the original spot o' trains.

Brett Sinclair

Have you noticed where the anticipated locations are to be shot?...Australia?

I don't think (if it's true) that the 1913 novel could be transposed from London and Scotland to Sydney & NSW in terms of similar locations. Perhaps we are looking at an updated version? The 39 steps being ....?

There's no need to kneel, I'm a very democratic sort of lord.