Following Abel Ferrara’s spirited comments regarding the upcoming remake of his 1992 film, Bad Lieutenant, Defamer has scored an exclusive response from the new version’s director, Werner Herzog:
Speaking of which, the original film’s director, Abel Ferrara, has vowed to fight this project, and —
Wonderful, yes! Let him fight! He thinks I’m doing a remake.
Have you talked to him?
No. I have no idea who Abel Ferrara is. But let him fight the windmills, like Don Quixote.
Have you heard his comments at all? He says he hopes “these people die in Hell.”
That’s beautiful!
Do you relate to that passion?
No, because it’s like theater thunder. It’s like being backstage in the 19th century, with the machines that make thunder. It has nothing do with with his film. But let him rave and rant; it’s good music in the background.
You did a remake before with Nosferatu, but —
It was not so much a remake as an homage to Murnau. But I don’t feel like doing an homage to Abel Ferrara because I don’t know what he did — I’ve never seen a film by him. I have no idea who he is. Is he Italian? Is he French? Who is he?
Oh, come on.
Maybe I could invite him to act in a movie! Except I don’t know what he looks like.
Almost more interesting: Herzog reveals the film IS NOT a remake and goes on to compare it to the 007 franchise. The full interview is up at Defamer.
Eagerly awaiting Ferrara’s next move.
Previously:
Abel Ferrara not happy about Bad Lieutenant Remake
Unnecessary remake gets unexpectedly exciting
A friend of mine was on the Leonard Lopate Show a few days ago and Werner Herzog was the other guest. She had a chance to talk to him and get a picture taken. He reiterated the statements made above.
Interesting…just about Ferrara? Did he repeat the James Bond analogy?
Not sure, but did mention that it was not a remake and he had no idea who Ferrara was.
I thought he was just putting Defamer on, but I guess you can never tell with Herzog.
I’ll keep calling it a remake until proven otherwise. I feel bad for Ferrara, but hopefully this mini-controversy will help the guy get funding for that crazy King of New York prequel he’s been wanting to shoot forever.
He repeated the same lines in an interview with IFC. The new bits are below:
IFC: You told Defamer you hadn’t even heard of Abel Ferrara.
Herzog: I don’t know who he is, but I heard he has a good, gruff face and maybe he would be good as a gangster in the movie. The last James Bond is not a remake of the previous one. They’re completely different stories, but the leading character is somewhat similar.
IFC: But the Bond movies are a series. So basically, the only thing your film has in common is its title?
Herzog: Well, there is a bad lieutenant in the previous film and in this one. We may even drop the title. I don’t know yet. [It's] not to avoid it, even if people think it might be a remake. You see, once this kind of rumor is out, you can never stop it. It’s like slashing open a pillow on the roof of your house and the wind blows in it and spills all the feathers out into the landscape. Now go out and find those feathers again and put them back in the bag. It’s impossible. We have to enjoy it as it is. I think we have to allow the rumors to live on. We cannot stop them, so let them live on.
Whether Herzog wants to call the film a remake or not, there’s no denying that Pressman developed it as one.
Was he any good in The Grand? It seems like he’s playing to old German stereotypes. Does he have an acting bug?
He’s always had what I would describe as a self-consciously German aspect to him. If you watch old clips of him in Burden of Dreams or My Best Fiend it’s apparent that he hasn’t changed much over the past quarter-century, in terms of public persona, anyway. Don’t know if you’d call that “playing to old German stereotypes” or not but there’s probably something to it.
Anyway, here’s a poster for his new movie. Coming soon to a theater near you! Or near me, at least. Rated G, take the kids!