http://collider.com/face-off-remake-in-works-at-paramount/
Like F/O'97 would need 2 A list stars to work:
Keanu/Pitt?
Cruise/RDJnr?
DiCaprio/Depp?
Bale/Craig?
Matt Damon/Hardy?
EDIT/2022: now confirmed as a sequel starring Cage
Adam Wingard Updates On Face/Off 2, An ‘Absolute Sequel’ Written For Nicolas Cage – Exclusive
https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/adam-wingard-updates-on-face-off-2-sequel-written-for-nicolas-cage-exclusive/
Thinking about it its more likely they'll want to put a modern day spin on it (otherwise itd be just a flat out remake with 2 white dudes)
e.g.:
Will Smith/Keanu
Angelina/Charlize
Charlize/Pitt
Keanu/Pitt & Bale/Craig I could see.
Robert Downey Jr. is way too tall to pull off with Cruise.
Tom Hardy is twice Matt Damon's size. Don't think that would work.
I don't even want to think about DiCaprio/Depp possibility.
Hardy & Damon are practically the same height (Damon listed as 5ft 10. Hardy 5ft 9) - how did you think Hardy was twice Damons size? did you think he was really Bane size? (he wore like 5 inch boots and all kinds of tricks to make him look big for that movie)
and RDJnr is about the same as Cruise 5ft 7ish - both wear lifts https://www.celebheights.com/s/Robert-Downey-Jr-523.html
Dwayne Johnson / Kevin Hart
The first one was pretty stupid. This would work better as some sort of comedy.
Or, maybe some sort of plot involving the use of deepfake technology, or those masks from the MI movies.
Another one could be Affleck/Leto.
shareThey’ll probably do a gender or race swap
shareThe original is one of my favorite movies, probably my favorite in the Action genre, but you won't see "A-listers" in the remake
Yes, the original had to big movie stars, and two actors that I greatly admire, but let's be real. Travolta had already done a lot of crap by that point. He was hot at the time thanks to Pulp Fiction, but he was never a "prestige" actor like DiCaprio, Bale, or Pitt. And Nicolas Cage had just finished doing Con Air and The Rock. Not hating on these movies, but it's clear that Cage was not afraid of doing B-movies
And the original was directed by John Woo, who is an acclaimed Action director and was very hot at the time. Unless they can lure another respected director, big stars will be hesitant to sign on. Someone like Doug Liman, maybe Kim Jee-Woon, Christopher McQuarrie, or Gareth Evans, the guy who made The Raid movies
Otherwise, it could be a shit, low quality reboot like what we got with Point Break, Flatliners, and Jacob's Ladder. A pointless cash grab with a horrible script and not even close to matching the predecessor
BUT, in an ideal world, I'd like two big name guys who aren't afraid to come out in trashy fun movies. Will Smith, Keanu, Woody Harrelson, Ryan Reynolds, James Franco, Colin Farrell
I would be very surprised if they go bi-racial. That would invite criticisms of blackface and shit like that
I understand your concerns . Like you F/O was/is one of my absolute favourites in the (pure) action genre imo ranking up there with the likes of Die Hard, Lethal Weapon 2 etc saw it back in 97 and was genuinely wow'd and then bought everything could find (CD, a genuine quad poster international style, the novel..even bought a press kit with a ton of glossy B&W photos from the new site id just discovered 'eBay' in 98 or thereabout). I even made sure I got the free F/O shot glass when I purchased the VHS. I was pretty obsessed with it lol.
I have to disagree with you on Travolta though. Back then in mid 90s he was legitimately the biggest movie actor in the world earning 20m a film (he was actually the highest paid actor of that era)due to the Pulp Fiction comeback which completely rejuvenated his leading man career to the point he was as big a deal as he was in the late 70s again. (plus there was the nostalgia of SNF and Grease being 20years old. Grease was even rereleased in cinemas in 98 and think it made decent box office) so was a big deal at the time of F/O and even though his post Pulp movies weren't too good (Michael, Phenomenon, Broken Arrow) they still made money. but F/O was like another Pulp for him (of course it didn't last - and Battlefield Earth heralded the decline again) And Cage was pretty big then too coming off his Oscar in 94/5 and The Rock, Con Air which were both big hits especially The Rock - with F/O being seen as the capper to his 'action trilogy'. And yes Woo was very 'hot' at the time and would go on to MI2 - so F/O was being seen as a great film not just another schlock action film but the 2 actors and director really elevated it - it was getting 5 star reviews in the likes of Empire magazine and was being hailed as the greatest action movie of all time (at least until the following year when The Matrix came out).
Regarding the remake your concerns are totally on target as since the original (it seems weird to call it 'the original' as the thought of remaking it seems ridiculous but will have to get used to it) was a great movie and a big deal with Travolta/Cage/Woo and is still greatly respected/admired. So are any A list stars and directors going to want to try and remake it? so its possible it could be one of those low quality remakes.. maybe even falling under Paul WS Anderson!
Also I guess the 20year age and the diminishing careers of the 2 guys (Travolta and Cage both in STDVD land although Cage is doing some really interesting stuff like Mandy) and Woo retiring from Hollywood has sort of made F/O consigned to history and has left the door open for a remake (otherwise if Cage and Travolta and maybe Woo were still big in Hollywood the studio would probably go with a sequel)
shareOh yeah, I'm not shitting on Travolta or Cage's careers. I enjoyed both Phenomenon and Broken Arrow. I personally prefer actors who do a wide-range of roles, from prestige films to popcorn stuff. Ethan Hawke is my favorite actor and he does all kinds of roles
I just mean that there are certain types of actors who are extremely selective and only want to work with the elite writers/directors. Guys like DiCaprio, Day-Lewis, Bale. That's why I don't think they'd star in a remake unless the script was fucking dynamite or if they landed a big-name director