Scarface (Director David Ayer Quits) (August 10, 2018)

Universal Pictures announced Friday that they will release a remake of Al Pacino’s classic crime tale “Scarface” on Aug. 10, 2018, filling in a slot previously listed as “Untitled Universal Event Film.”

The studio has Joel and Ethan Coen attached to the project to polish the script, which had been previously worked on by “Boardwalk Empire” creator Terence Winter. The plot will follow the basic framework of Pacino’s film, but will change it from a Cuban immigrant in Miami to a Mexican immigrant in Los Angeles. Antoine Fuqua was originally brought on to direct the film, but had to back out due to prior obligations. Universal has yet to announce a replacement.

Martin Bergman, who produced Pacino’s 1983 “Scarface,” is returning in the same role. Marc Shmuger, Scott Stuber and Dylan Clark are also on to produce the film.

David Ayer has exited Universal’s Scarface, with insiders citing a too-tight schedule for Ayers’ liking on a movie that has an August 2018 release date. There had been a helmer bake-off before the studio settled on Ayer, who just finished the Will Smith-Joel Edgerton pic Bright for Netflix. All this after Antoine Fuqua dropped out over scheduling.

While the studio will have to go through a new round of discussions with filmmakers, maybe the smart move is to return to Fuqua, who seems an ideal choice and who will be past whatever scheduling problems he had when he completes the Equalizer sequel with Denzel Washington and who, by all accounts, really seemed to like the subject matter.

Diego Luna is still attached to star in the pic, a re-imagining of the core immigrant story told in both the 1932 and 1983 film versions, the latter directed by Brian De Palma, written by Oliver Stone and starring Al Pacino. The new film will be set in Los Angeles. The script is by Jon Herman and the Coen brothers. Dylan Clark is producing along with now-Netflix film boss Scott Stuber, and original 1983 producer Martin Bregman.

UltimateMarvel wrote:Scarface is on my list, I should probably take it off ...

WyldeMan wrote:Apparently the studio deemed Ayer's script way too dark and they let him go, he didn't quit as originally reported by all the trades. I'd very curious as to what you have to write to make Scarface "too dark". Given the original chainsaw bathtub scene I can't imagine how dark Ayer had to get to make them so nervous.

Rusty Cunt wrote:Maybe in Ayers script Tony really couldn't imagine another man touching Gina - and he took her request to "fuck me" a little too literal?

Outside of that? Who knows.

Rusty Cunt wrote:

UltimateMarvel wrote:Scarface is on my list, I should probably take it off  ...

No.