David Ayer Might Direct That New ‘Scarface’ Movie
A new Scarface remake doesn’t sound all that exciting, but a new Scarface remake directed by Antoine Fuqua — now that had some potential, especially with Diego Luna in the title role and a script by Joel and Ethan Coen. You could easily envision Fuqua’s take on the iconic gangster story (which famously served as the basis for two classic films), and at the very least, it would be a good-looking, fairly entertaining film. Unfortunately, Fuqua dropped out of the project a while back, and we’re a little skeptical about his potential replacement.
Deadline reports that Suicide Squad director David Ayer is in early talks to replace Fuqua at the helm of Universal’s new Scarface movie, which is currently set to hit theaters in August 2018 — that the studio seems committed to that release date isn’t the best sign; we’ve seen enough films built around release dates and rushed into production, resulting in a product that’s timely, but maybe not the best possible version it could be.
Suicide Squad may have been a total mess, but at least some of its problems can be attributed to its troubled (and highly-publicized) post-production. Ayer’s track record otherwise is somewhat solid; he has a clear aesthetic, and he knows how to make a gritty crime flick, so he’s not necessarily a bad choice for a new take on Scarface. Like Fuqua, you could easily imagine what Ayer’s version would look and feel like — but if you aren’t a fan of Ayer’s grimy street style, this news might not excite you.
Based on the classic story that inspired the 1932 film and Brian De Palma’s 1983 update with Al Pacino, Scarface tracks an ambitious immigrant’s rise up the drug chain to become a powerful kingpin. Universal’s new take on the story will move the action to Los Angeles.