‘Scarface’ Remake: Antoine Fuqua Set To Direct, Who Should Replace Irreplaceable Al Pacino?
The long-touted Scarface remake has allegedly taken a huge step forward, as Training Day’s Antoine Fuqua is in talks to direct the project. But now the big question is, who will look to replace the irreplaceable Al Pacino as Tony Montana?
Deadline has reported that Fuqua is already deep in talks with Universal to potentially oversee the latest incarnation of the film. 1983’s Scarface was itself a remake of 1932’s Scarface, which had Paul Muni in the titular role.
The latest script for Scarface was actually written by Suicide Squad‘s David Ayer. Paul Attansio also had a whack at the script, before Jonathan Herman wrote the most recent draft that is now being shopped around to directors, starting with Antoine Fuqua.
Antoine Fuqua in Talks to Direct Universal’s #Scarface Film https://t.co/ZSaV4Q2bwb pic.twitter.com/i6bL5afJU3
— Variety (@Variety) August 11, 2016
But rather than being a straight remake of the 1983 version, Scarface will instead be set in Los Angeles, rather than Miami, but still at its core will be a rag-to-riches story about an immigrant that is able to build up an empire through violence.
Written by Oliver Stone and directed by Brian de Palma, the original 1983 film was heavily criticized upon its release because of the amount of violence, drug use, and bloodshed. Fuqua’s work in the crime genre over the last few years with Training Day, The Equalizer, and the impending Magnificent Seven, which Universal have high hopes for since it pairs Chris Pratt with Denzel Washington, means that he’s a rather sensible choice for the film.
But the big question now is, who will try and step into Al Pacino’s shoes and play Tony Montana? Despite his work in such films as Heat, The Godfather, The Godfather: Part Two, Dog Day Afternoon, and Scent Of A Woman, Pacino’s crowning achievement, and most notorious work, as an actor is widely acknowledged to come courtesy his tour-de-force performance as Tony Montana.
There’s a good chance that Fuqua will trust the role to someone that he has previously worked with. In recent years Fuqua has undoubtedly worked with some of Hollywood’s most prestigious acting talent. He directed Jake Gyllenhaal in Southpaw, Pratt and Washington in The Magnificent Seven, and Mark Wahlberg in Shooter.
Yet none of these possess the raw intensity and terror to truly take the character of Tony Montana to the depravity and depths that can rival Pacino. But there are definitely some candidates out there who could do just that.
One of the prime choices could be Oscar Isaac. The actor, who was raised by a Guatemalan mother and a Cuban father, most recently wowed audiences with his turn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but before then he’d proved his muscle in A Most Violent Year, Inside Llewyn Davis, and Ex Machina, while in 2016 he’s already appeared in X-Men: Apocalypse, Mojave and Show Me A Hero.
Because of the popularity and allure of the role, Isaac will clearly face competition for it. Another contender is likely to come in the form of the Oscar-winning Javier Bardem, who previously won acclaim for his role as Anton Chigurh in the Coen Brothers’ No Country For Old Men, but has also shown off his prowess in Skyfall, Biutiful, and Before Night Falls.
#Scarface is coming back to the big screen with director Antoine Fuqua https://t.co/aYUL4KwnUT pic.twitter.com/zZYkA7CcC9
— IndieWire (@IndieWire) August 11, 2016
Meanwhile, Benicio del Toro, Edgar Ramirez, and Bradley Cooper could each be in line, too. Del Toro has been garnering praise ever since he first appeared in The Usual Suspects back in 1995, while he has gone on to appear in Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas, Snatch, and Che, too, and won an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance in Traffic.
Edgar Ramirez is more up and coming, having appeared in Zero Dark Thirty, The Bourne Ultimatum, Joy, and Point Break, and will make appearances in the upcoming Hands Of Stone and The Girl On The Train before the end of 2016, too.
Meanwhile, Bradley Cooper has become one of the most popular actors in Hollywood in recent years. After breaking through in 2009 with The Hangover, Cooper earned three consecutive Oscar nominations thanks to his performances in Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle, and American Sniper.
[Image via Universal]
