First announced way back in 2010, not long after Argentinian film “The Secret In Their Eyes” won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, a remake was in the works at Warner Bros. with Billy Ray (“Shattered Glass,” “Breach“) slated to write and direct. The project hadn’t shown signs of any real momentum, with word surfacing in 2011 that Denzel Washington had been offered the lead. He didn’t take it, but two actors are now aboard with the movie now headed to the Cannes marketplace.
Chiwetel Ejiofor and Gwyneth Paltrow are slated to star in the thriller, with Ray still on board to pen the script and get behind the camera. Whereas the first film was set firmly against the backdrop of decades of Argentinian politics, this revamp will follow an MI-5 agent (Ejiofor) who goes to work alongside the FBI in Boston to help close the books on an unsolved murder, leading to a shocking discovery when the truth is revealed. Touted as a revenge tale, this seems all fine and stuff—and the casting is solid—but it appears to be missing the heavier thematic elements that really made the original deeply felt. (Also, good luck replicating the soccer stadium chase sequence.)
Anyway, IM Global is producing and financing the film (WB no longer seems involved) with the project out to buyers at Cannes. If all goes well, it looks like this will roll into production. [THR]
"(Also, good luck replicating the soccer stadium chase sequence.)"
Hear hear!
First question: why?
Second: WHY?!
I do not like this. At all. I don't believe they'll be able to improve it. Whatever. I'm already used to this. But let me state that I'm okay with Chiwetel leading, but not with Paltrow (I have nothing against her by the way I just don't enjoy watching her on screen a lot). Can we get Blanchett or Chastain for this?
If ever there was a film crying out to be remade… it sure as hell wasn't this one.
Leave it alone guys. You won't improve on it. Find something more worthy of all of your talents.