This ought to be a fun post. As you know, Hollywood can’t resist putting their paws all over the classics to ruin remake them for a quick buck. Most of these remakes are not only unnecessary but fail to preserve the spirit of the original works. Plus it’s plain lazy for filmmakers who would rather rework someone else’s project than come up with a fresh story. The latest victim in this diabolical scheme is Rosemary’s Baby, which was last directed by Roman Polanski (before we all knew he was a predatory douche). NBC will air the remake as a 4-part miniseries.
This news is unwelcome on its face. Why would any network executive think this remake is a good idea? Advertisers are probably interested because people will tune in for the first part at least. Or will they? The Mia Farrow role has been cast, and Zoe Saldana has emerged as the victor. Oh boy. If Zoe thought she received more than enough criticism for playing Nina Simone, she’s not done yet. I’m guessing Zoe may go for the Mia haircut so she can claim once again to live the androgynous lifestyle. Here’s the scoop from Deadline:
Avatar and Star Trek star Zoe Saldana has been tapped as the lead in NBC’s four-hour miniseries Rosemary’s Baby, an adaptation of the 1967 best-selling suspense novel by Ira Levin. The mini centers on Rosemary (Saldana), a young wife and would-be mother who, with her husband, moves into a Paris apartment that has a darkly storied past. After finally getting pregnant, she becomes increasingly suspicious that both her husband and their mysterious neighbors have ulterior motives about the future of her child. The role was played by Mia Farrow in Roman Polanski’s 1968 feature adaptation. “Zoe has proven that she is one of our most gifted actresses, and we think she has the perfect combination of spirit and gravitas to take on the title role from Ira Levin’s infamous novel,” said NBC’s head of longform Quinn Taylor. “With Zoe leading the cast under the direction of Agnieszka Holland, this reimagined event miniseries is off to a great start.” Holland is directing the mini from a script by Scott Abbott. Production is set to begin shortly in Paris. ICM Partners-repped Saldana recently appeared in the Christian Bale drama Out Of The Furnace, and her upcoming projects include Marvel’s Guardians Of The Galaxy and Blood Ties. Rosemary’s Baby is the first miniseries greenlighted by NBC as part of its renewed push in the longform arena. It was followed shortly by an order for The Bible sequel A.D.
[From Deadline]
You know, I think I’m actually going to change sides and declare myself as being on board with this casting news. I don’t say this because Zoe is such an amazing and “gifted” actress (because she’s not). I won’t even watch this remake because it sounds ridiculous. However, the press tour for this miniseries is going to be amazing. Zoe’s gonna bring her new rack and overly hostile shade in spades. And I can’t wait to hear what comes out of her mouth.
Here’s Zoe and husband Marco Perego spreading more of their awkward body language in LA a few weeks ago.
Photos courtesy of WENN
No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No no. No. No. No. No. No. No. No nononononononononononononononono.
Just no.
amen T Fanty.
Don’t these Hollywood types have an original idea in their dumb heads. I wish I could sit on the board to say NO to half this mess. Who gives up this kind of cash. I loved that film and NO ONE can be Mia sorry.
An original idea? How can original ideas survive in a town that worships the almighty Golden Calf???!
I mean seriously dear, methinks you have been living out of the States for too long now as you’ve forgotten what makes Hollywood tick.
I know what makes them tick $$ and why not make a remake as the target audience they are looking for are the 20-30’s that haven’t been born when Great Gatsby /Rosemary’s Baby came out. So yes I get the idea but it’s sad. I have a friend who is a producer and I ask her the same thing, she said most projects have several people they want to attach to them for one reason or the other and they don’t want to budge from that list. Oh this person is well known in Europe might not be the best but he can sell it there. China really only wants 3D so most big budget need 3D, but China will only import 3 a year.
I miss living in the US as I love the awards shows not coming on at 1am as I will not be up but I am sort of glad I don’t live there now oh and I miss the seasons that’s for sure. But I do get back yearly so I cram all the craziness in.
AG, I knew you knew. I was being cheeky….
It’s sad all around. Unless they go at it with the right intentions…
I didn’t quite get that. Could you clarify for us? (JOKE)
Why oh why do they always re-make movies? The original is a classic (like Carrie). What’s next – The Birds?
As long as it’s not Casablanca.
Lol too bad Elle Fanning is too young and not quite ripe enough to have had a crack at this.
Why does Hollywood have to ruin everything?
Rosemary’s Baby is a perfectly directed, written and acted film. Mia Farrow was born to play Rosemary and Ruth Gordon was superb.
Just stop.
I do not understand remakes. Not of classic films, not of foreign films( is it so damn hard to read subtitles, Jesus, give the people some credit) and for the life of me, I can’t understand remakes of British films.
I sooo agree, Bubbles.
Remakes of British films? Oh honey, that’s easy. We remake them so we can understand them.
😉
Wasn’t Saldana ine the remake of Death at a Funeral? The British version was much much much better.
@LadySlippers, I know you’re joking, but can Americans really not understand Brits? Because, for an example, I watch a lot of British comedy, and some of my favourite comedians have very strong accents, like Geordie or Scottish, and I can understand them just fine. And I’m not even a native speaker nor have I ever been in an English-speaking country.
I understand, if they do remakes of movies that are 40 years old and effects are laughable, but when I heard that they did Oldboy, which is relatively new movie (and absolutely amazing), that is the thing what makes me cry. I mean if people can’t read subtitles, then just redub the movie (I don’t know if this can be used on this, but you know hire english speaking actors who do voice acting), in many countries it is usual practice (for example, first I watched Friends with slovak dub and then in original sound and it was almost identical, I mean they did really great job).
I am joking to some extent Spooks. But a lot of Americans find anything British to be extremely off putting as the stereotype is Brits are too highbrow and only intellectuals and liberals (intellectuals and liberals are both bad) care for anything British. So no, a lot of Americans can’t understand (and won’t try to understand) even the blandest British accent. (It’s a huge thing on ‘liberal’ PBS that two British shows are such a hit as that runs counter to the anti-Brit theme of a lot of Americans have)
I can understand most British accents but Geordie still trips me up a lot. Lol
As for subtitles, I’ve put them on everything (EVERYTHING) in order to increase my children’s reading ability and it really works. So I’ve gotten used to subtitles. (For the record, it’s one of the easiest ways to get kids reading more)
The original, British version of ‘Death at a Funeral’ was so sublime that I’d never even consider watching a remake. That’s blasphemy in my book!
The Brits remade ‘The Deep Blue Sea’ and it’s now my favourite movie. I felt like I was watching art and very few movies feel like that. So it IS possible to remake something and exceed the original — it’s just a huge challenge that needs the ‘just right’ approach,
Oh, I never thought about it that way. I always thought Americans love Brits.
As for subtitles, I can imagine it being a bit off putting at first if you’re not used to them. Here, pretty much everything is subtitled ( because most of the films and tv series are American or British), so I’m used to them.
LadySlippers I LOVE “Death at a Funeral”, British version more than the faux version. I will admit Danny Glover’s version of the Uncle hit close to home. I remember having mean ornery older relatives like him. This might sound harsh but I’m glad they’re no longer among the living. I’m having a flashback of my childhood dealing with those a**holes.
Spooks,
It may *seem* like we Americans adore the Brits but it’s a misconception. The fact is, we horribly cherry-pick what we import and like from the UK.
We like certain people in certain things. Music is one import from the UK we don’t mind as their ‘Britishness’ is not too obvious and can be ignored and/or minimized. Same can be said of certain actors/actresses as long as they conform to *our* standards. Our issues with Brits rear it’s ugly head when it comes to movies and TV shows. Especially our villains. We have a short demographic of ‘acceptable’ foes and the English are our villain of choice.
Plus, most Americans don’t get British humour (understatement of the century) and again that’s due to classism, xenophobia, anti-intellectualism, and various other reasons. So the original ‘Death at a Funeral’ would seem lame as so much of that movie revolves around British humour.
I could write a long dissertation on our unspoken, hidden contempt for the English (not really the Brits as a whole but they often get lumped into it because most people don’t get the UK/GB/England thing) but I won’t. Basically it’s tied into our collective psychology, our history, classism, anti-intellectualism, our ‘in your face’ patriotism, and so on.
Hope that helps.
PS~ Once you get used to subtitles everything feels naked without them. My kids are teens and I still use them. And they are both voracious readers so it’s not like they ‘need’ the subtitles! Lol
I don’t mind subtitles, but The Killing, The Bridge/Broen = The Tunnel (UK version) I hear they are going to do the Returned as well. The Ring (original) was great but they remade that one too. I guess it makes their jobs easier they don’t have to think too much. Sissy Spacek is the only Carrie I need to see. 🙂 No one could do big eyes like she could
On the general point: I think part of the reason that we tend to remake British (and other English-language) movies and shows is that there’s a pervasive belief that things that happen to people living in other countries aren’t of interest to American audiences. Even Canadian shows popular in the US often pretend that the program is set in a large US city or are quiet as to the location, even in cases like Orphan Black where it’s obvious that the part of “New York” is being played by an actor named Toronto. It ends up being self-perpetuating, since we end up training young people to assume anything that’s not about Americans is “stuck up” or “high brow” or “not any fun,” which makes it less likely they’ll seek out counterexamples. And, while many British actors are popular in the US, many of them are famous for portraying American characters or for movies set in fantasy universes where characters don’t have real world nationalities.
LadySlippers: I’m a fellow fan of subtitles, and I agree that once you get used to them, the screen looks empty and wrong without them! In my case, I started using them because I have some congenital hearing loss and have trouble picking out dialogue when it’s paired with certain music, but these days I prefer them even in shows where I can hear everything perfectly.
Totally agree. Perfect, classic films should have “historical landmark” status imo. What a totally dumb idea to remake this.
One of the grossest parts of this remake is resetting it in PARIS. Jesus H. Christ, Manhattan was practically a character in the original movie (and in the novel). Although everyone knows they’d never be able to use the Dakota apartments again as the setting, surely there is someplace in NYC which could have served as the ultra-creepy apartment building. Why the hell did they have to move the setting to FRANCE, where everyone is so bored and superior no one would give a damn about Satanists?
A bad idea all around. Netflix the original film and be done with it.
Ha, just realized – they’re actually going to SHOW the kid in this one, aren’t they? With his yellow eyes and budding devil horns and little claws. Unbelievably stupid. The best part of the original was never seeing the baby, only Rosemary’s horror-stricken face when she first sees him and realizes who he is.
This kid will probably breathe fire and burn down the apartment building in a giant exploding holocaust – in TV’s first 3-D broadcast!
The original wasn’t very good to begin with; I can’t imagine them making a 4 part miniseries out of it. The upside for Saldana is that she can’t possibly be worse than Farrow.
I’m with you, though we seem to be in the minority. I was bored in the original, and I thought Mia was stiff and unbelievable.
Cheekiness aside, I have not seen the original but my solution is pretty simple. Find THE best of everything. Get damn good actors and actresses and even better writer(s) & a director.
Zoe’s a lot of things but I haven’t seen an outstanding performance yet from her. That isn’t to say she can’t but I just haven’t seen it.
I completely agree that if you intend to remake a movie, make it better by using the finest talent you can secure. Unfortunately, I think most remakes do the opposite for some reason. Quick buck?
GoodNames,
I think the quick buck is exactly the reason Hollywood does 80% of what it does. The Golden Calf is a mighty, mighty pull.
I don’t remember all of Rosemary’s Baby, but wouldn’t they have to cut a bit for network TV to begin with? How are they going to make it twice as long?
Why?!? Remaking this movie is stupid as the original was so good. This annoys me.
Her husband looks a lot like Leto with bad hair.
Remember how horrible the remake of The Stepford Wives was?
They never learn.
It is Minnie Castevet (Ruth Gordon) I worry about.
You just KNOW they’re going to use Doris Roberts in the role! And, ugh.
Well, I am not completely against the idea of remaking it. It wasn’t that good in first place and its atmosphere was little boring. But in no way Zoe. I mean, Mia was really ,,innocent” in the movie and this is one of the reasons why it has some credit. Zoe is many things, innocent is not one of them. I know you don’t like Anne Hathaway, but maybe she would be good (and please, no Chloe, but she is too young, so phew).
Well, on the bright side next to this mess original is going to look even better.
I’m down. Can’t stand the original or it’s director. Plus, I’m interested to see how Zoe plays the role.
It’s on network TV, so it’s almost guaranteed to be overly cautious and bland (NBC is not HBO or AMC). Nothing to get excited about, good or bad.
OMG, you’re right. The part in which Rosemary is impregnated by Satan was considered pretty racy back in the day (lots of nudity all around). How the hell are they going to do it on NBC? It ain’t “The Sound of Music,” you know.
oh hell no!
“one of our most gifted actresses” and all she can do are biopics and remakes that no one wants her to do anyway. Whatever, will not see any of these.
Minime ain’t that the truth
Don’t like Zoey’s smug attitude but i have enjoyed some of the movies she has done especially the action ones like The Losers,Colombiana even Avatar.
What’s next? The Godfather? Casablanca?
How about writing something original Hollywood? Something that relies on a plot rather than CGI.
No maybe Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?? hehehehehe and I know Mildred Pierce was successful for HBO but no one can beat Joan Crawford VEEEEEEEDDDDAAAAA
That was remade with the Redgrave sisters.
Remakes are the worst. Whatever happened to original ideas! Ugh.
Having said that, I like Holland. Maybe she’ll do something interesting with this? Meh.
I didn’t notice Agnieszka Holland will direct it. I’m surprised she would agree to do that and this fact changes my perception of this project. She and Polanski are the only two (living) Polish directors who really made it in Hollywood and as they have never directly shown any signs of competition between them, they are usually compared by the audience here which makes them rivals. This move by Holland makes her look like she wants to show Polanski that she is the superior director and can remake his most famous movie to be even better. Sadly, with Zoe Saldana as a lead it’s bound to be a failure.
No. This project is doomed.
Remakes are the devil. *smh*
With that said, her husband is HOT.
I have a feeling that this is going to be touted as a “re-adaptation” of the novel rather than a remake of the movie. That is usually what happens when a movie based on a novel is remade, so if they remake the Godfather or Gone With the Wind that would most likely be the PR spin.
HELL NO
i just watched rosemary’s baby last weekend and i think it stiill feels very modern. its a tad dated but they look like adorable hipsters! it holds up 100%! a remake, with any other director and any other actors is completely ridiculous. IMHO
I am intrigued and the same time annoyed that Hollywood once again is out of ideas.
But doesn’t Holly wood do that since the beginning of Hollywood?
They basically remade in speaking versions films already made in the silent era.
When John Huston in the early 40’s decided to remake The maltes falcon, people rolled their eyes because the 1st version (a good one) was barely 10 years old. Well, I guess he wasn’t so wrong to persevere.
Pacino had one of his iconic roles with Scarface. Yet the version with Paul Muni is a great one.
The Departed is an excellent film, even if it doesn’t top in my mind the original Infernal affairs.
I don’t understand why people are surprised about this and react with “no original ideas nowadays”.
It’s ALWAYS been like this: adapting classic novels, remaking old movies, remaking foreign movies.
Even books are often adapted into something ‘new & different’ when it’s just recycling old ideas. That’s kinda a human thing to update and remake.
Why?
just…….for why????
I hope I’m dead and buried by the time Dirty Harry, The Man With No Name Trilogy Western and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf are ruined
Kelly took the words out of my mouth; why not add Forrest Gump, Apocalypse Now and Roots series – ruin it all.
get ready to “clutch your pearls” there have been talks about Roots and Shogun being remade
NO
The original is a classic, we don’t need a remake..they have to ruin everything don’t they??
Zoe Saldana starring in ANYTHING instantly makes me go ‘bad idea’.
So over this chick. She’s really pretty but she isn’t a good actress and seems insufferable in any interview she gives.
It’s a horrible idea and she’s a horrible actress
I’m tolerant to some degree of remakes, but this particular idea is horrible. I liked Rosemary’s Baby well enough, but Satanists aren’t exactly a popular cultural villain these days. That craze ended long ago.
Also, stretching a 136-minute movie into a 4-hour miniseries is an almost perfect representation of how storytelling has become slow and bloated. When did we decide that more always means better, even if it results in endless scenes full of details but lacking any emotional impact?
I agree LunchComa.
There’s too many things that sound like this could not be the hit they think it will be. Especially a movie that the topic isn’t in vogue and makes us sit for *4* hours…
That movie was perfect. This will be as fucked up as the remake of “Psycho”. There are a pile of interesting plots in The Agatha Christie novels, Daphne DuMariur, Joyce Carol Oates, Margaret Atwood, and so on. These dopes would barely have to WRITE anything to make these movies. And yet the theaters are filled with crap like “The Big edding” and “Hangover part 17”. I haven hardley been to a movie in months as there is nothing worth shelling out $30.00 for.
What would be the point in a do-over for Rosemary’s Baby? Does every film or musical have to have a twin featuring an all black cast or something???
You know, I can’t say I’ve seen too many remade movies with all black casts out there recently. I think this one might be in your head.
I am not a fan of remakes ever. I think someone out there should get creative and start writing new movies for all these wonderfully creative souls. Leave the masterpieces alone. But that’s just me!
I am not generally in for remakes, especially from movie to the miniseries platform. However, I did love one recently – it was the HBO miniseries Mildred Pierce, starring Kate Winslet as Mildred, Guy Pearce and an awesome Evan Rachel Wood as the spoiled and beautiful Veda. I also loved the original mid 40’s film starring Joan Crawford. Not too excited about Rosemary’s Baby, especially on a regular network.
This makes me really angry. I’m so sick of this woman. Ugh.
Well, this is almost the worst idea I’ve heard in months. Bring back the Hula Hoop, Gilligan’s Island or champagne in a can, but leave Rosemary’s Baby alone! You cannot improve on this! & no, I don’t like re-makes, but this is an especially bad idea.
The very idea of anyone playing Minnie the terrifying nosy neighbor after Ruth Gordon’s perfection is just devillish.
The problem is not the remake or the casting. The problem is that it’s network and NBC is incapable to bringing any kind of spin to this story, let alone a fresh one. If HBO or AMC were doing the remake, I’d be completely on board.
Can someone explain why her husband always wants to carry her handbags?
I am still pissed that THE WOMEN was remade.
Team Norma Shearer and Jean Crawford. The remake of The Women was awful. Heads should have rolled for even thinking to do a remake of that classic
I have been over this woman since Avatar. Not pleased about her role as Gamora as someone better should have gotten it. Over it.
I think it’s interesting? : / I like her