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EXCLUSIVE: Joe Carnahan has abruptly withdrawn from Death Wish, the Paramount-MGM remake of the 1974 film. I’m told this happened over creative differences having to do with casting. Word is they didn’t agree on the guy playing the role 
originated by Charles Bronson. I understand that the studios want Bruce Willis and Carnahan wanted to go another way.
Carnahan, coming off the Liam Neeson starrer The Grey, has other irons in the fire. I’m told one prime candidate is Narco Sub, the thriller written by David Guggenheim that the late Tony Scott planned to direct at Fox.
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Carnahan didn’t want to deal with the difficult Bruce Willis?? I’m in shock.
Bruce Willis on Die Hard 5 was a near total nightmare for anyone having to deal with him. (and no one is talking about the delayed start date and the reason why on that film) And it sounds like the much needed integrity that Carnahan wanted to inject was too “edgy” for the studio. Im sure there is some commercials director looking for a big break and be a studio patsy..
Smart move not to do DIE WISH.
Liam Neeson is the perfect star for a new Death Wish.
No he isn’t, and neither is Willis. The point is to have an everyman turning to violence. If you have an already established action star like Willis or Neeson, then its just a generic star vehicle. Besides, I’m sure if Joe wanted to go ahead with Neeson, it would have happened.
Uhh, Charles Bronson was a pretty established action star.
I never thought of it before – but I agree. He’s perfect for the part.
I wish for once studios had some creative thought in wanting to cast someone for a reboot. Don’t get me wrong I like Bruce Willis but they should cast someone who doesn’t have the history that Bruce does.
I want someone without the heavy action background. Maybe a Josh Hartnett type.
Absolutely no reason to remake Death Wish. It stands as a classic on its own.
They’re cutting into the obscure franchises now. They’ll never relaunch Farscape or the Dark Crystal. Thank god, you corporate heathens won’t succeed on that level
Joe makes a bad habit of having creative differences he lost Mission Impossible 3 for the same reason and some other movies he has much too big of an ego for someone of his stature.
“Joe makes a bad habit of having creative differences he lost Mission Impossible 3 for the same reason and some other movies he has much too big of an ego for someone of his stature.”
I’m willing to be Joe Carnahan has made plenty of money for himself and his reps. Why should he say yes to something he doesn’t believe in for the sake of saying yes? I say, good for him for saying no.
SLC – Bruce is a bona fide movie star with real acting chops and has proven time and again that he can carry a film. Very few people in the world can carry a film. Bruce just has that X factor and that is why studios love him. He is money in the bank. Who cares if he’s difficult at times. Use to be a badge of honor in the biz though now in PC Land one gets black balled. Pathetic. All these kiss as actors in their little suits speaking the publicist speak. Clones all. Bruce is old school rock n roll and he don’t take s–t. CW actresses are making everyone’s live miserable 24/7 and not a peep from you. Christ, if he can’t get away with it who can?
Yes Bruce is money in the bank. COLD LIGHT OF DAY and that FIRE WITH FIRE movie and whatever other recent directo-to-DVD junkers he’s starred in proves it!
They only used him for a few days in each to satisfy international estimates and sales and the netflix output deal for Grindstone Entertainment, for example… He’s bank to them. Bruce just wants to get PAAAAYYYYD. They are made for direct-to-video customers, knowingly.
Professor Falken
So whom did Carnahan want?
Bryan Cranston.
Didn’t they “technically” remake DEATH WISH with that Kevin Bacon film, DEATH SENTENCE?
What they *should* do is remake DEATH WISH 3 – that is a gem from the Cannon library. The most watchable exploitation film, ever made.
Professor Falken
The book “Death Sentence,” by “Death Wish” author Brian Garfield, was his sequel to “Death Wish,” but James Wan movie (which I really like) took very little from the book.
Cranston makes sense, as the original was supposed to have Jack Lemmon, someone who isn’t associated with gun play from past roles like Bronson was.
Bryan would never do Death Wish it’s too similar to Walter White a mild mannered guy becoming a killer he’s done that to perfection and he wants to do a Breaking Bad movie at some point but I doubt it will happen.
Then, why would Bryan Cranston do a lousy remake of Godzilla ? He is selling out big time. I am sure Cranston would do this remake in a heartbeat.
He wanted Cranston?!? That would’ve been AMAZING! I get it, the studio wanted a star and a franchise, but Cranston would’ve made it a movie worth seeing!
Frankie Muniz would be bank!
Worked with Bruce. He doesn’t suffer fools.
Kevin Smith gave the 411 on Willis (difficult). Go against type cast Tom Hanks. When the last time we saw Hanks go ape.
Someone like Kevin Spacey would have been perfect. Bruce is a good actor. But not for a project like this. Has anyone bothered to read the original Brian Garfield novel? Nothing like a Bruce Willis vehicle.
The problem with Bruce Willis, besides his unprofessional reputation, he is a inconsistent actor. Willis doesn’t always give good performances. I have seen Bruce sleepwalk too many times in his movies-not even trying to give a decent performance. Acting 101, always give your best performance- whether the script is excellent or hideous.
PULP FICTION.
The studio would have preferred neeson to willis. And charlie b was a huge actuon star when he did thus – played
Cranston is a good choice. When your a creative visionary you have to stick to your guns otherwise your not going to put your passionate work into it; Carnahan walked not cause of ego, but integrity. I grew up watching Willis, ever since Moonlighting I’ve been a fan; but there is such a thing as too much exposure.
I’d love to see someone like John Cusack, Paul Rudd or Don Cheadle – an Everyman tackle DEATH WISH.
This would resonate with the original Sidney Lumet and Jack Lemmon original plan for the original.
Those are decent choices. I’d also add Tom Wilkinson, Richard Jenkins, Mark Ruffalo, Frank Langella, Stanley Tucci, Michael Stuhlbarg, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeff Daniels, Geoffrey Rush … you need to go in the opposite direction of the traditional action hero, almost to the point where it would seem comical to witness the guy with a gun. The audience shouldn’t be sitting around, waiting for the lead actor to start shooting people, like they would if Willis were playing the lead. That’s not the commercial choice, but it would make for a more interesting creative one.
Michael Stuhlbarg! Fascinating idea!
Paul Rudd would be an intriguing choice. We’ve seen both Cusack and Cheadle handle weapons and kill people on screen. I don’t believe you can say that about Paul Rudd. He’s rarely appeared angry, much less violent. Rudd would fit the character in Garfield’s novel to a T.
would never happen but I think Michael Rooker would be best for Death Wish.
If they wanted something between psychological and action he would be ideal just not famous enough.
He was planning to do the movie with Frank Grillo from the beginning.
I’ve been a Bruce fan since the MOONLIGHTING days, but the earlier poster is correct that he obviously is just looking to get paid. He can still offer up an interesting performance when there’s a director who really challenges him (look at MOONRISE KINGDOM or LOOPER, or further back to his work with Shymalan), but sadly most of his stuff feels really rote, and Carnahan isn’t really into making the pure paycheck movies (yeah, yeah, he did THE A-TEAM, and it’s his worst movie by far), so I can see why Joe bailed. I’m more interested in what Joe is going to do than I am Bruce, a statement that sort of breaks my heart.
I’d rather see Denzel than Willis.
Did someone actually call Paul Rudd, Phillip Seymor Hoffman, and John Cusack “Everyman”. What lilly white wide world are you living in?
“Everyman” refers to demeanor, not pigmentation.
If you took ten seconds to scroll up, you’d see that the “Everyman” comment included Don Cheadle as a good alternative. It’s not about skin color. You’re combining two different posts to make a fatuous point.