Sofia Coppola gave up a major studio gig when she gave up Universal’s LITTLE MERMAID remake (allegedly because she wasn’t down with studio favorite Chloe Moretz), but she’s jumping over to another dust-off job: a retelling of Don Siegel/Clint Eastwood’s 1971 drama, THE BEGUILED.
Coppola’s cast Nicole Kidman, Elle Fanning, and longtime collaborator Kirsten Dunst to star in her remake, which will take place at a Louisiana all-girls school in the midst of the Civil War. Fanning will play a student, Dunst will play one of the teachers, and Kidman will play headmistress.
No word on who will play Clint’s role, that of the wounded Union soldier who ends up convalescing in the school under the care of its occupants, but hopefully it’s someone who evokes the handsomeness and allure of Eastwood in his prime.
Coppola will no doubt add a feminine perspective and a modern touch that Siegel’s original film may have lacked in comparison, and will undoubtedly have a great time replicating and dissecting the inner workings of an 1800s-era all-girls school. She’s obviously no rookie in dealing with burgeoning sexuality in young women, which should make for some exciting dynamics between the various women the male lead will seduce (particularly Kidman and Fanning, if they stick to the old script).
I know Coppola’s work tends to be divisive and/or overlooked, but this seems like it could potentially have the four-quadrant appeal which has eluded (or been eluded by?) Coppola since she broke out after LOST IN TRANSLATION. If it has a shred of the pent-up sexual angst that made VIRGIN SUICIDES so potent, then it could be, after THE HOMESMAN, another strong feminist western with a great cast and a director who knows how to deal with actors.
Also, I encourage any and all anachronistic use of New Order whenever it seems appropriate. Hope that’s something we can all agree on.
