Nordling here.
This doesn't sound so much like a remake as it does a reinterpretation along the lines of THE MAGNIFICIENT SEVEN, BATTLE BEYOND THE STARS, or A BUG'S LIFE. Variety reports today that the Weinstein Company in conjunction with Japan's Kurosawa Productions has found a director for its SEVEN SAMURAI remake, and that director is Scott Mann (THE TOURNAMENT).
The film looks to be about a small Thailand village that recruits seven top mercenaries from around the world to help fend off an attack. So, yeah, I guess you could call it a remake, although at least it's not a true samurai film, for which I'm grateful.
I'm of very mixed opinion on this - the original may very well be my favorite film of all time, but I can recognize the fact that the story tropes are so universal that they could be changed up to apply to any kind of genre. This is just another iteration. As long as they don't actually call it SEVEN SAMURAI, which would be silly, this might be okay, emphasis on might. It also depends on who they get to play the mercs. I'd imagine something a la THE EXPENDABLES, where old and new action heroes alike line up to play the merc team.
I am not familiar with Scott Mann's work as a director at all, so I have no opinion on how suited he is for the job. Just don't mess this up, please. If they're going to do a remake of this classic piece of cinema, at least the original will still be on my shelf, always ready to watch. It would be nice if the Weinstein Brothers offered to put out SEVEN SAMURAI for theatrical release, just to pay proper respects.
Nordling, out.
