Long Good Friday gets US remake

[DB7]

Another Long Good Friday

Another Long Good Friday
Original cast to return for classic remake
15/08/2003

Remakes are very much in vogue at the moment, so it comes as something of a refreshing surprise to discover that, while the Long Good Friday is currently being examined for a resurrection, it won't be a repeat of the original but rather a sequel starting where the first film left off. Talking to Blade II star and former chart-topper, Luke Goss, Empire Online was informed that the actor had been approached to star in such a film and that, most exciting of all, the original cast may return as well.

"I like the original kind of gangster movies," Goss told us. "I enjoyed Lock Stock but my favourite UK gangster movie is The Long good Friday. They're actually thinking of making another one and they've asked if I would do it. I don't know who'd be directing it but I've heard that everybody's coming back. I mean everybody of note who was in that movie, like Pierce [Brosnan] and Helen [Mirren] and Bob [Hoskins]."

Something of a bombshell we're sure you'll agree and something we'd certainly be interested to see if it all goes ahead. Goss has recently finished work on Charlie, the true-life story of gangland boss Charlie Richardson - an experience that will doubtless serve him well if the sequel to John Mackenzie's film goes ahead. Indeed, with a Michelle Yeoh film in the can, a re-working of the Frankenstein story ongoing (he plays the monster) and a number of other projects in the pipeline, the ex-popstar's movie career is most definitely on the rise. "Life is good," he grins.

[DB7]

Long Good Friday gets US remake
Bob Hoskins
Hoskins played gangster Harold Shand in the 1980 original
A remake of the classic British crime film The Long Good Friday is being planned, it has been confirmed.

The 1980 original starred Bob Hoskins as an East End gangster whose criminal empire comes under attack from a wave of mysterious bombings.

Production company Handmade Films said the story would be "refreshed" with a modern setting.

Filming is due to start in Miami in 2008 under the direction of Paul W S Anderson, who made Resident Evil.

Handmade chairman Patrick Meehan said: "The original was a highly praised classic and one of Handmade's most prized films, but its reach was limited primarily to the UK.

"Following continued interest from the US, we realised this remake could attract audiences worldwide with an updated setting and contemporary overtones.

"When Paul presented his creative vision for this project, we were instantly convinced that this is a story that could be successfully refreshed, yet leave the integrity of the original intact."

Anderson added: "I am delighted to have the opportunity to put a new spin on this classic film which promises to reveal today's gritty underworld in an equally shocking fashion."

No actors have so far been confirmed for the project.

[orpheum]

If the film is a sequel then how will BobHoskins character be revived.After all i rather got the impression that he was being "taken for a ride" to be fitted with a cement waistcoat rather than being taken for a night out in an irish pub in Kilburn.

[christoph404]

If The Long Good Friday is remade then Peirce Brosnan has just got to be in it somewhere, that would be cool!! And old Bob is still going great guns but I would agree that it could be tricky to revive his character as he was obviously for the chop at the end of the original, maybe he struck a deal with the Brosnan character and they are running drugs into Miami now....mmmm...and Helen Mirren of course became the Queen of England!!

[orpheum]

Or maybe they agreed to open an Irish themed pub to replace the one that Brosnan blew up!

[Aaryk Noctivagus]

Paul W.S. Anderson is to direct the remake of 'The Long Good Friday'.

I'm presuming everybody (other than the folk at Handmade Films) realises what a mediochre Director this guy is.

"When Paul presented his creative vision for this project, we were instantly convinced that this is a story that could be successfully refreshed, yet leave the integrity of the original intact."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6662085.stm

[Aaryk Noctivagus]

My thanks to whoever removed the doubled thread. I had terrible problems with a glitch... then when I was finally able to get back into the forum I saw the duplicate thread... and discovered I couldn't get rid of the copy myself.

Thanks again

[David Brent]

In the new film plot the IRA will probably be replaced by Al Qaeda.

Being filmed in Miami? Sorry but I'm suddenly not very enthusiastic about the remake.

Dave.

[kelp]

Oh No!!! How on earth can they do this? The Long Good Friday is a British masterpiece, nothing to do with Miami, or the US. Just look at what they did to The Ladykillers! The only reason this is being done again is cash. Wider audience, big star names no doubt, and I doubt whether the new American audiences will even know about Bob Hoskins.Helen Mirren or Brosnans original thriller. I can just hear them whooping it up in the movie houses as Jamie Foxx and Joe Peschi get down and dirty in South Miami!

[batman]

The Queen .....

... meets the King of the underworld

[Harleybloke]

Originally Posted by kelp Oh No!!! How on earth can they do this? The Long Good Friday is a British masterpiece, nothing to do with Miami, or the US. Just look at what they did to The Ladykillers! The only reason this is being done again is cash. Wider audience, big star names no doubt, and I doubt whether the new American audiences will even know about Bob Hoskins.Helen Mirren or Brosnans original thriller. I can just hear them whooping it up in the movie houses as Jamie Foxx and Joe Peschi get down and dirty in South Miami!

Too right Kelpy!!

Leave it alone......................... :rifle

[christoph404]

Originally Posted by kelp Oh No!!! How on earth can they do this? The Long Good Friday is a British masterpiece, nothing to do with Miami, or the US. Just look at what they did to The Ladykillers! The only reason this is being done again is cash. Wider audience, big star names no doubt, and I doubt whether the new American audiences will even know about Bob Hoskins.Helen Mirren or Brosnans original thriller. I can just hear them whooping it up in the movie houses as Jamie Foxx and Joe Peschi get down and dirty in South Miami!:

Yeh, I agree, remakes are usually a bad idea, especially in the hands of American filmakers remaking a non USA title. I think the trouble with the general USA film going public is they find it very difficult to see things that are not in terms with their own culture and regard any non US film including British Films as "Foreign" and thats usually not good box office in the US. Im pretty sure "The Long Good Friday" had some success in the US, but I guess it will be like the Get Carter remake with Sly Stallone, plundering a few elements here and there from the original and changing the ending to a more positive conclusion, and maybe Tom Hanks in the role of Harold Shand or even Tom Cruise, I don't think Arnie is making films anymore since becoming the Guvn'r of California! so he's out the picture.

[Moor Larkin]

Originally Posted by DB7 Long Good Friday gets US remake Production company Handmade Films said the story would be "refreshed" with a modern setting............... No actors have so far been confirmed for the project.

I can now reveal that Mel Gibson has now been signed up for the lead role, alongside Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan. Bob Hoskins will make a cameo appearance as a taxi-driver in Boston.

The proposal is for Mel to play the Boston-based supremo of the Noraid group which successfully expanded into London following the assasination of Harold in 1980, by his trusted lieutenant, played by Brosnan. He also touts his fading trophy-wife, played by Helen Mirren, the woman kidnapped when Harry was murdered. Their relationship has soured to the point that he now contemptuously refers to her as 'Sugar Tits'.

Mel returns to Boston with some Arab sheiks. He is hoping to interest them in a major arms deal. His attempts to impress the rich arabs is ruined as a series of mysterious explosions beging to wipe out his minions. He discovers his trusted man (Brosnan) has been involved in a murder of a middle-eastern arms dealer whilst pursuing deals in Somalia, Chad and Iran.

The confusion continues but the story-line of the film makes clear the development of Mel Gibson's fenian movement into a world-wide terrorist supplier and training organisation.

The unexpected slaughter of Gibsons cohorts continues hoewever. Finally the sheiks leave in disgust and the deal falls through. In an angry attempt to restore order, Gibson arranges a major hit at a horse-racing track in Saudi, wiping out several 'business-men' and their families, thinking it is they who have queered his pitch.

He returns to Boston via Shannon airport, boasting:
"They can take me away from my country, but they cannot take my country away from me!!"

Back in Boston he finds Helen Mirren has disappeared. Given to understand she has moved to Los Angeles he decides to find her and punish her. Arriving at the airport late he angrily castigates the taxi-driver, played by Hoskins. He and Brosnan successfully catch a second 'plane which is heading for Los Angeles barely 30 minutes later.

Gibson and Brosnan are settled in their seats in First Class when several men drag them into the cabin as they hijack the 'plane. Brosnan struggles and is stabbed with a stanley knife, his blood spurting all over an annoyed Gibson. Gibson stares at the men, who have killed the pilot and are now turning the 'plane sharply. The camera lingers on Gibson's face as the noise of the gutteral shouting and the screaming of the aeroplane's engines fades. We watch the slow changes as his expression changes from annoyance to bewilderment and back again to resignation, as understanding gradually dawns.

In a luxurious suite somewhere in a hot desert country, Helen Mirren snuggles against a bearded man. They are watching a TV screen as the second jet hits.



A simplistic enough world-view for Hollywood I should think

[kelp]

Really. Absolutely no further comment is neccessary...from me anyway.

[harryfielder]

With a bit of luck I'll get a couple of days as an extra on it..(I did work on the first one....(Aitch the old boy copper )

Aitch,