It looks like the remake of Battle Royale is being put on hold until a new strategy can be figured out. The Virginia Tech Massacre has them concerned about the timing of the film – we get the news from movieweb:
According to IGN, Battle Royale producer Roy Lee has had to put a leash on his Americanized remake of the gory Japanese thriller. In an interview, he claimed that the recent Virginia Tech massacre has had a heavy impact on the future of the film.
New Line Cinema had been pursuing rights to the property, which focuses on a ninth grade class imprisoned on an island and forced to kill one another. Last month’s killings have stalled the progress on that front. Lee still wants to make the movie, but agrees that his script will need to make some compromises in light of the tragedy. He stated that “We might be a little more sensitive to some of the issues.” Had the movie come out before the shootings, Lee seems to think that his project, “…Would have been slaughtered by the press.”
This is bad news. How can you have a decent Battle Royale remake without kids killing each other? This movie can never be “sensitive to the issues” either go balls to the wall or do not make it. This movie does not need to be remade, but if you do – make sure it is kick-ass.
The Virginia Tech Killings sucked, no doubt about it. I cannot imagine what the families are going through and I feel for all of them. But we do not honor the dead by putting out shitty watered – down remakes of Battle Royale.
Wait to release the film if need be, but do not change the movie because of tragedy.
I understand the desire to be sensitive, but if world events are causing us to edit our art – we are going overboard. We are sensitive to a fault.
Battle Royale Remake On Ice?
Am I the only one who read that title and thought that Disney had lost the plot?
At best I thought it would be interesting to see what they would do with this project, but after reading this, they really just need to shelve it. I didn’t thing before what happened at VT they would’ve been able to get away with this, now definately not.
Besides that the original is great, and there is no need to remake it.
The Breakfast Club (1985) re-enforces stereotypes Donald? Okay….time to find a new friend.
To subject at hand: maybe the filmmakers should be glad they werren’t remaking Old Boy.
This is typical of a world we livee in where everyone has to careful for everything. I had a conversation the other day with a friend who said it was a shame that movies like The Breakfast Club reinforce stereotypes and thus had an indirect effect on Virginia. How many links in the chain do you need for that one?
Its a shame, but it is true that in any case, the American remake will be terrible anyway for this exact reason. The Vigrinia Killings aside, American cinema will constantly be asking while making this movie ‘will anyone be ofended by that?’ You can’t make Battle Royale in the US, you just can’t.
The original film still stands tall, and needs no remake. And the timing might not be the best. Doug and the guys above are right on all counts.
I agree that under the circumstances, it shouldn’t be made at all. Unfortunately Doug, there are a lot of idiots out there just waiting to be insulted and offended by a film like this.
Agree on your points but specifically these two:
A) It should NOT be remade. It’s a stellar film so just leave it alone.
B) If you HAVE to remake it then exactly what you said Doug, WAIT but don’t CHANGE.