LOTR Director Signs on to remake of "KING KONG"

The Sydney Morning Herald ^ | April 2 2003

[yankeedame]

King Kong's comeback

April 2 2003

'Twas Beauty that killed the Beast

Los Angeles: Lord of the Rings film director Peter Jackson is switching his focus from hobbits to giant apes after signing up to remake the classic monkey movie King Kong, sources said today.

The New Zealander responsible for the Rings films - the last volume of which is to be released late this year - has finally been contracted to make the new picture for Universal Studios after nearly a decade of trying.

"No film has captivated my imagination more than King Kong," Jackson was quoted as saying in a Daily Variety report.

The contents of the report has been confirmed by Universal sources.

"I'm making movies today because I saw this film when I was nine years old. It has been my sustained dream to reinterpret this classic story for a new age," he told Daily Variety.

Jackson - who had set out to make King Kong in the 1990s until the release date was delayed, forcing him to turn his attentions to the Rings trilogy - is planning for a 2005 release date.

He will start monkeying around with the new movie - which, like Rings, will also be filmed in New Zealand - when he completes the last picture in the hobbit trilogy, The Return of the King.

He will begin work on the script along with his Rings co-writer Philippa Boyens as soon they complete post-production on the trilogy finale in October.

King Kong was first made by Hollywood in 1933 when Faye Wray starred as the compassionate victim of the giant ape's attentions.

It was remade in 1976 when Jessica Lange took on the role.

The success of the first two Rings movies has made Jackson hot property in Hollywood.

The first film won 13 Oscar nominations.

The second, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, took six nods, winning two of them last week, while notching up around $US900 million ($A1.5 billion) at the box office worldwide.

"We are confident that Peter and Fran's execution of King Kong will amaze moviegoers," Universal Pictures president Stacey Snider told Variety.

"His vision for the tragic tale of the misunderstood creature, with its poignant character development and technological wonder, will make King Kong compulsory viewing for any real movie lover."

AFP

[goldstategop]

I'd like to see a remake of King Kong minus the America hating Jessica Lange in it.

[OpusatFR]

Was hoping he'd attempt CS Lewis' Space Trilogy starting with Our of a Silent Planet.

Darn.

[freebilly]

Return of The King... Kong....

[goldstategop]

I bet the role for Faye Wright will be filled by Liv Tyler.

[spiffy]

King Kong was a scary movie! Dark and foggy, especially when they go inside the gates. I think the LOTR guy could do it justice.

[Mamzelle]

I was hoping for "The Hobbit."

It must be a relief for Jackson to be able to make a movie as a "single", rather than a "triple"!

[goldstategop]

The Hobbit isn't as interesting as the LOTR. Anyway after a lifetime on his masterpiece, its completely understandable why Peter Jackson wants to turn his attention to lighter fare.

[lawgirl]

UGH!!!!!!!! Another classic film relegated to remake--again.

Don't worry, Fay Wray, we classic film fans won't forget you. :-D

[Dahoser]

"We are confident that Peter and Fran's execution of King Kong will amaze moviegoers," Universal Pictures president Stacey Snider told Variety.

Well, his execution of the Two Towers certainly amazed anyone who read the book.

[Mamzelle]

Yes, he's not really very old to already have his "best" behind him.

[dead]

The first King Kong is perfectly enough King Kong for me.

Sad to see yet another talent go the cookie-cutter, fast-money, little-art remake route.

What's next for him, "Three's Company - The Movie"?

[far sider]

Perelandra would be interesting. With Ransom and the Green Lady.

[BibChr]

It was remade in 1976 when Jessica Lange took on the role

I might say "took down."

Dan

[Spiff]

King Kong!? Giant ape movie. The whole concept will never escape B Movie status. What a mistake for the excellent director of LOTR.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

King Kong was a scary movie!

Absolutely agree. It was way ahead of its time and, IMO, was probably the first blockbuster ever before that title was claimed by Jaws in 1975.

And it didn't have millions of dollars in special effects and fancy Madison Ave movie trailers.

[freebilly]

Well, King Kong won't have the WTC to climb so he'll have to go back to The Empire State Building. Or Jackson could set The King Kong remake in Orthanc....

[Non-Sequitur]

Aw Jeez, another one? I suppose in this one the ape will have to climb the Empire State Building again.

On the other hand...big smelly ape in New York City...Senator Hillary Clinton...this should be good for a few jokes at least.

[CAPTAINSUPERMARVELMAN]

I believe that any naysayers against this project are going to be pleasantly surprised. Peter Jackson had originally started remaking King Kong before his did LOTR, but Universal scrapped the project due to it being in the running with the Mighty Jo Young remake(PC tripe) from Disney and that horrible dribble from Sony which they dare called Godzilla. Jackson's vision of Kong is that of the original with one slight twist and that is filling in all the things the original cut out. There use to be photos of models from this project on his website. The looked really good.

[Fresh Wind]

A remake of King Kong makes about as much sense of trying to make a movie out of the Bible.