“Say hello to my little friend”. Anyone into mobster type movies will instantly recognize that classic Tony Montana (Al Pacino) line from the mobster classic, Scarface. In fact, the movie is so full of memorable lines and scenes that it’s hard to imagine a remake being better.
However, director Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name) thinks that he can remake this classic movie better than the Brian De Palma 1983 version starring Al Pacino. Granted, Guadagnino never actually said that but you have to presume that’s what any director of a remake is thinking otherwise, why would they even bother?
I guess there’s only one way to find out and yes, it’s happening – again.
Variety is reporting that even though this project has been in the works since 2011, Guadagnino is now the most recent director picked for the project.
Some people may not know that the 1983 version wasn’t the original. That title goes to the 1932 version directed by Howard Hawks and starring Paul Muni.
Al Pacino as Tony Montana in the 1983 version of Scarface
This most recent production has been a struggle to get off the ground. The producer of the 1983 version, Martin Bregman, was named as producer for the remake. David Yates (Harry Potter) was all set to direct and David Ayer was going to write the script.
Then, in 2014 Chilean director Pablo Larrain (No, The Club, Jackie) took over from Guadagnino as director with a new script written by Paul Attanasio (Homicide: Life on the Streets) which focused on a “Mexican hustler in Los Angeles).
Another report said that Antoine Fuqua (Training Day) had been all set to direct the movie but left the project. Fuqua was going to use another new script written by the Coen brothers and starring Diego Luna.
Variety now says that Guadagnino will be using the Coen brothers’ script and the movie will be produced by Dylan Clark (Batman). Unfortunately, Martin Bregman will never see if the remake turns out better than his 1983 version as he died in 2018.
Guadagnino has previously directed a remake of Suspiria, a Dario Argento horror movie starring Tilda Swinton and Dakota Johnson. His movie “Call Me By Your Name” was Oscar-nominated for best picture and stars Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer.
Check out the best scene in Scarface (in my opinion) in the clip below.
