January 27, 2009

Neil LaBute Gets Happy?

Apparently his biting work like In The Company of Men and The Shape of Things are relics of the past, as this story in Variety expounds:
Helmer Neil LaBute has inked a two-picture deal with Screen Gems. The first project will reteam the director with his "Nurse Betty" star Chris Rock for a remake of 2007 British comedy "Death at a Funeral."
LaBute, who most recently directed the Samuel L. Jackson starrer "Lakeview Terrace" for the genre label, has also signed on to helm the romantic comedy "Here Comes the Sun" for Screen Gems.
The American-set "Death at a Funeral," which was penned by Rock and Aeysha Carr, revolves around a dysfunctional family that gathers for the patriarch's funeral. Tensions rise and old conflicts are uncovered.
Sidney Kimmel is producing the film alongside former Sidney Kimmel Entertainment production topper William Horberg. Rock, Share Stallings and Laurence Malkin will also serve as producers. Jim Tauber is exec producing.
Nina Coleman wrote "Here Comes the Sun," whose plot details are being kept under wraps. Brad Epstein ("Dan in Real Life") is producing via his Panther Films shingle.
LaBute's film directing credits include "In the Company of Men." He also is an accomplished playwright, and his "Reasons to Be Pretty" will premiere on Broadway in March, marking the first Broadway debut of a LaBute play.
-Death at a Funeral is a rather funny english black comedy, and I'm a bit curious to see what Chris Rock does with it...

3 comments:

  1. Why are they remaking a movie that is a year and half old and actually got a decent release in America? It's not like when they remake a Japanese film noone has seen. I didn't even see the film but still remember the trailer and that Peter Dinklage was in it. Things must really be getting thin out in CA.

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  2. It's a curious one to me as well, but they do tend to try and do quick remakes now, like Quarantine (remade from REC), and the upcoming remakes of Let the Right One In and The Host

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  3. I can somewhat see the angle for a quick turnaround remake if the film was in a foreign language, but when it's already in english and is accesible to the public I don't really get it.

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