In a new interview withVarietytimed to the release ofa teaserfor his new HBO seriesWe Are Who We Are,Luca Guadagninotalked about his upcomingScarfaceremake, as well as the planned sequel toCall Me By Your Name.
The Italian filmmaker is no stranger to remakes, having recently directedSuspiriafor Amazon, and having basedA Bigger Splashon the 1969Alain DelonfilmLa Piscine. But those who claim he only does remakes are missing the bigger picture, as Guadagnino explains.
“People claim that I do only remakes, but the truth of the matter is cinema has been remaking itself throughout its existence. It’s not because it’s a lazy way of not being able to find original stories. It’s always about looking at what certain stories say about our times.”
With that in mind, Guadagnino told the trade that hisScarfaceremake will be “very timely.”
“The firstScarfacefromHoward Hawkeswas all about the prohibition era. Fifty years later,Oliver StoneandBrian De Palmamake their version, which is so different from the Hawkes film. Both can stand on the shelf as two wonderful pieces of sculpture. Hopefully ours, forty-plus years later, will be another worthy reflection on a character who is a paradigm for our own compulsions for excess and ambition. I think my version will be very timely,” said Guadagnino, offering insight into how he sees the character.
Guadagnino is a prolific filmmaker who is always juggling multiple projects at any given time. That’s because he describes himself as “a relentless workaholic. I’m someone who has never tried any drugs, because I’m too scared for my own health. But I feel like when I was born, I fell on aScarfacemountain of cocaine, because I work 13 hours a day.”
To that end, Guadagnino continues to develop a sequel to his acclaimed dramaCall Me By Your Name, which followed a summer romance between youngTimothée ChalametandArmie Hammer.
“I call it a second chapter, a new chapter, a part two or something like that,” said Guadagnino. “I love those characters. I love those actors. The legacy of the movie and its reception made me feel I should continue walking the path with everybody. I’ve come up with a story and hopefully we will be able to put it on the page soon.”
I’m of the mind thatCall Me By Your Nameended on the perfect note, and as tempting as it may be to revisit those characters, that film should probably left alone to stand on its own. But I’m just one fan, and many others are chomping at the bit for a sequel. Of course, with production at a standstill for the most part and Guadagnino gearing up to remakeScarface, it may be a little while before we see the further adventures of Elio and Oliver.
In the meantime, Guadagnino has been keeping busy during the pandemic by watching new movies. “I saw a great movie calledThe Vast of Night, and I watched for the second or third timeDoctor Sleep, which is a movie I admire greatly,” said the director. I wasn’t a big fan of either movie, but hey, to each their own. For more on the director’s cut of Doctor Sleep,click here.
