The Jewison Re-Makes

As I mentioned in my last post, it seems like whenever a re-make is being considered people go to the films of Norman Jewison first. We've already had re-makes of The Thomas Crown Affair (original / re-make) and Rollerball (original / re-make), both of which were re-made by Die Hard and The Hunt for Red October director John McTiernan. And now, along with Jesus Christ Superstar, we are also going to get High Alert, which is a re-make of, or at least inspired by, The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming. I don't think McTiernan is directing either of them.

What is interesting about High Alert is that it's being co-written by Rick Mercer. I believe this is Mercer's first foray into film writing but he's very smart and very funny. I'm actually excited by this one.

Spider Webb

Apparently Marc Webb, director of 500 Days of Summer, has signed on to the latest Spider-Man project. This one is going to be reboot of the story, perhaps the way Christoper Nolan rebooted Batman. Neither Sam Rami nor Toby Maguire are attached, so now that there's a director on board in Webb the search is on for a lead. My guess, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I have nothing to base that on, but they have worked together before - to great result - and Gordon-Levitt has got the physical skills to do it, as we saw in G.I. Joe. Plus he's a great actor - way better than wooden Maguire. The only think going against him is he may be too old to play high-school, assuming that's what they're doing with this reboot. I have heard that Zac Effron is rumoured to be up for it but I think Gordon-Levitt is a better choice, although Effron was good in Me and Orson Welles.

In other semi-related news, Marc Webb is also apparently remaking Jesus Christ Superstar. I guess every film Norman Jewison ever made has to be re-made.