Director Bryan Singer, not content to remake and/or reboot one potential franchise in Battlestar Galactica, is now taking on yet another reboot project. This time around, he’s set his sights on John Boorman’s excellent 1981 film Excalibur, which introduced actors such as Helen Mirren, Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne, Patrick Stewart and Ciaran Hinds.
According to the report, Singer and Warner Bros. have closed a deal to remake the film with Singer producing and developing the picture as a potential directing vehicle. Inspired by Sir Thomas Malory’s 15th century work, and scripted by Rospo Pallenberg and Boorman, the original Excalibur “explores the myth of King Arthur, complete with the Knights of the Round Table, Merlin the wizard and the quest for the Holy Grail to save Arthur’s life.” Singer hasn’t set a writer yet for the project.
For many years I’ve been wondering why nobody ever took a fresh look at this movie and story. Its themes are timeless and it sports lots of great sword fighting, magic and romance so it should provide more than enough material for a brand new film — or even a franchise. Really, I would much prefer Singer do this film instead on taking on Battlestar Galactica. Or, he could do Logan’s Run or even X-Men: First Class, which he’s been supposedly interested in based on his reaction to a script by Josh Schwartz. Any of those would be fine Bryan — just keep yer mits off of BSG.
Henric Bronkhorst
March 4, 2010 at 3:39 pmBoorman’s movies have depth and meaning. Excalibur has layers and all kinds of meaningfull connections with other movies and with points within the movie itself. Many moviemakers already tried to immitate parts of the film, and faild terribly. I’ts every time a joy to see this movie and experience its content and to fnd new meanings and connections. Don’t try to ‘remake’ this movie if you don’t understand these things, and don’t want to understand them. Don’t try to fit in the footsteps of Pallenberg and Boorman. These two are too big. This movie will stay at the top.