Brian De Palma confirms that he will touch The Untouchables in prequel

untouch.jpgIn it’s name as well as it’s caliber many people feel that The Untouchables should remain that way but it will be touched, by the original creator of the movie Brian De Palma. The people over at cinematical.com give us this:

Although the rumor had been lingering around for over a year now, Brian De Palma will officially begin production on a prequel to The Untouchables this June. The Untouchables: Capone Rising will be based off a script written by Brian Koppelman and David Levien, the same duo who brought us films like Rounders, Knockaround Guys and the upcoming Ocean’s Thirteen.

Story will revolve around Al Capone’s early days on the mob scene, and how his rise to power was due, in part, to the seedy, corrupt side of law enforcement. Pic will also focus on Capone’s relationship with detective Jimmy Malone (played by Sean Connery in De Palma’s 1987 film), a dirty cop who vows to turn his life around after exposing himself to Capone’s violent, illegal and dangerous behavior. If De Palma plans to start shooting this thing in June, a cast should be announced fairly soon.

The plot sounds strong, Al Capone’s criminal mind being inspired by crooked cops, the crisis of conscience that Capone brings out in those same policemen. That’s interesting to me.

However De Palma must work diligently, and I mean be pristine if he is going to get away with going back to this perfect crime. Because if he gets lazy and just wants to ride on the name of The Untouchables for some cash he is going to loose big time. Fortunately I don’t think that’s his intention. I can understand wanting to do this style of film again if I was De Palma, to do it twenty year later with that much more experience.

I say good luck to him.

The story sounds good, that is a key factor, the other is the casting. One thing is certain in my mind; if they pull any weak actors this movie will be wearing some major cement shoes.

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5 thoughts on “Brian De Palma confirms that he will touch The Untouchables in prequel

  1. I’d hate to see a remake. I’m not sure why people complain about the lack of historical accuracy. It was obvious to everyone I thought that The Untouchables was playing off the lore more than the history. I think the creative license worked perfectly for The Untouchables in the same way it did for Tombstone. Wyatt Earp was the more accurate movie, but it proves that the truth isn’t the only way to tell a story. If someone wants to make an historical re-enactment of the Capone days and his battle with the U.S. Treasure Dept, so be it, but that’s not what The Untouchables is or should be.

    As for a Prequel, this sounds like a worse idea than even Carlito’s Way: Rise to Power. I mean let’s face it, who are they going to get to fill Robert DeNiro’s and Sean Connery’s shoes? By calling it The Untouchables, that’s exactly what they are trying to do. Why not simply make a mafia film about the early days of Capone and have it stand on it’s own? Let audiences decide if they want to see it as a sequel or an unrelated film. Why does everything these days have to ride a brand name?

    If Brian DePalma wants to return to his roots, let him go make some horror films. God knows Hollywood desperately needs some talent working in that genre.

  2. This could be great or…

    it could be Carlito’s Way 2: Rise to Power.

    Here’s to hoping for the best because prequels (hint, hint) are rarely anywhere near as good as the original.

  3. This is nothing new; the concept of a prequel/Rise of Capone has been talked about for years. The only news here is that it might finally come to pass.

    Incedentally, should it really have “The Untouchables” name on it? The coined nickname began during Eliot Ness’ pursuit of Capone in that he couldn’t be bought off (and lightly alluded to in the ’87 film). Also, Malone is a character made up for that film.

    I would like to have seen…A REMAKE.

    Not that I didn’t love the first film. But I would like to see a film that sticked closer to the facts, such as how many “Untouchables” there were (11) -none of whom died- that Nitti didn’t die the way he did in the film (he took over Capone’s business while Capone was in prison), and that Ness was a single man at the time of the Capone investigation.

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