COMMENT | Zoe Saldana has landed the lead role in a new take on the genre-redefining 60s horrorclassic 'Rosemary's Baby.'
Now, before fans everywhere start spitting feathers, screaming "how dare they?!" and "the remakes have gone too far this time", we should stress - this is a TV mini-series, not a new movie. Relieved?
[Christine: the remake that didn't happen]
Deadline report that the star of 'Avatar,' 'Star Trek' and the upcoming 'Guardians of the Galaxy' will be taking the considerably more earthbound role of the woman impregnated by Satan, previously played by Mia Farrow.
Interestingly, the two-episode, four-hour mini-series being produced for NBC will deviate both from Ira Levin's 1967 novel and Roman Polanski's 1968 film by moving the action from New York to Paris.
Behind the camera will be seasoned director Agnieszka Holland, whose extensive CV includes the 1993 film of 'The Secret Garden,' 2011 Polish WW2 drama 'In Darkness,' and numerous TV credits including episodes of 'The Wire' and 'The Killing.'
The script is from Scott Abbott, the screenwriter most recently responsible for… oh dear… 2002 Anne Rice adaptation 'Queen of the Damned.'
[Cast fills out for From Dusk Till Dawn TV series]
Is it wrong that I consider this remake not so big a deal considering it's for TV rather than the big screen? I've no doubt I'd be getting irate if this was a cinematic remake of Polanski's game-changing classic.
However, as it's in a different format for a different medium, it's easier to accept as a separate entity, I feel. It may well do things in a genuinely distinct and interesting way - and a longer running time may allow the story to unravel more gradually, more akin to a novel-like structure.
It will also be interesting to see Saldana be the central focus for a change. In her most popular genre fare at least, we're far more accustomed to seeing her in supporting roles.
As for the story moving to Paris - no shortage of devilish types in those parts too, I suppose…?
Like the idea of Zoe Saldana revisiting 'Rosemary's Baby' for TV? Let us know in the comments.
