Tim Burton To Remake '1984'?

[Bakunin]

http://boards.ign.com/teh_vestibule/b5296/180656224/p1/

There's a fair bit of internet buzz going around at the moment that Tim Burton is to do a film adaptation of George Orwell's classic dystopia '1984'.

Assuming this is true, and I think it may well be true given the sheer volume of rumours flying about cyberspace, will he come up with a hit or a miss?

Discuss.

 

[rikwakefield]

I think the subject suits his style.

Hit.

 

[rollinder]

could be great
but yet another reason for Orwell's estate to block the bbc version

 

[Bakunin]

could be great
but yet another reason for Orwell's estate to block the bbc version

I've heard that the folk who manage Orwell's estate protect it in a similar fashion to Cerberus protecting the Underworld, so you could be right about that.

 

[Nemo]

could be great
but yet another reason for Orwell's estate to block the bbc version

They didn't block that diabolical adaptation of Animal Farm though (the one where they changed the fucking ending).

 

[rikwakefield]

...the one where they changed the fucking ending.

What?! Philistines.

Why would they do that?

 

[Nemo]

What?! Philistines.

Why would they do that?

This gives some of the details but doesn't convey the true horror. They tried to divorce it from any political context and make it cute. And they tacked on some bullshit ending where the farm is taken over by a wholesome-looking human family with the animals vowing not to re-create the mistakes of the past.

E2A: also, outraged comments on IMDb here: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0204824/usercomments

 

[DotCommunist]

I for one have no desire to see Jonny fucking Depp as Winston Smith

 

[rikwakefield]

I for one have no desire to see Jonny fucking Depp as Winston Smith

Johnny Depp is excellent.

 

[Nemo]

I for one have no desire to see Jonny fucking Depp as Winston Smith

And Helena Bonham-Carter as Julia no doubt.

 

[Nemo]

Johnny Depp is excellent.

Winston Smith he ain't though.

 

[DexterTCN]

They didn't block that diabolical adaptation of Animal Farm though (the one where they changed the fucking ending).

How very Big Brother of them.

 

[QueenOfGoths]

I for one have no desire to see Jonny fucking Depp as Winston Smith

That was my exact first thought - I like the Deppster but he is not Winston Smith!

 

[DotCommunist]

Johnny Depp is excellent.

in some roles. Winston Smith? No way.

I'd at a random stab suggest John Hurt might pull it off. Maybe he's a bit too old though

 

[QueenOfGoths]

And Helena Bonham-Carter as Julia no doubt.

Now that can fuck off an all I am not fan of Helena. At all.

 

[QueenOfGoths]

in some roles. Winston Smith? No way.

I'd at a random stab suggest John Hurt might pull it off. Maybe he's a bit too old though

Bit too old sadly - looking forward to seeing him reprise Quintin Crisp later this year (sorry for the de-rail!)

I am not sure who would make a good Winston - David Tennent if he can get rid of the "Dr Who" image maybe?

 

[SpookyFrank]

I think the subject suits his style.

Hit.

No no no. All that gothic flamboyance of his wouldn't work at all. 1984 needs to be stark and cold. And Burton's only physically capable of casting two actors, both of whom would be shit for the roles.

Shane Meadows should do it, with Paddy Considine as Winston.

 

[Barking_Mad]

There is already a film version of 1984 in some sort of production, althogh when i checked about a month ago there was a lack of any info.

 

[army_of_one]

Will it be stop-motion or a musical?

Or both?

 

[joevsimp]

They didn't block that diabolical adaptation of Animal Farm though (the one where they changed the fucking ending).

sounds horriffic from the imdb thing, anyway, I know that Orwell's works are public domain in Canada, not sure abut the States I know a lot of people are against the Mickey Mouse Copyright act (can't remember what it's really called) but this is a case for the defence

 

[cybertect]

I'd at a random stab suggest John Hurt might pull it off. Maybe he's a bit too old though

He's already done Winston Smith, though? Why do it again?

 

[Gingerman]

Will it be as good as his 'Planet of the Apes' re-make then?

 

[camouflage]

I think the subject suits his style.

Hit.

Goddamnit.

1984's worth a remake, but not by that joker. It's not a gothy puppet show afterall.

 

[camouflage]

I'd like Tarantino to do it. Or Peter Jackson.

 

[Orang Utan]

1984 is very sombre and serious - tim burton always has to lighten the mood - i hope he can restrain himself this time.

 

[camouflage]

Bit too old sadly - looking forward to seeing him reprise Quintin Crisp later this year (sorry for the de-rail!)

I am not sure who would make a good Winston - David Tennent if he can get rid of the "Dr Who" image maybe?

David Tennant! :- ((

 

[Kaka Tim]

I shudder to think how this might turn out.

The 1980s version with John Hurt and Richard Burton was pretty true to the book - but cant see Burton wanting to keep all that bleakness.

I suspect extravegent flights of fantasy /realism when Winston's off nobbing julia in the country side and some sort of feelgood ending.

Cant think who'd be better than john hurt either - its not a 'heroic' role, more a flawed, suffering, everyman charcter - William H Macy? And if we're having Dr whos - what about Christopher Ecclestone?

 

[joevsimp]

David Tennant! :- ((

could work, but he'd have to play it completely straight, like he did in the quatermass remake

I think he could make a good number 6 as well

 

[DexterTCN]

Depp has too much depth to play Smith.

Smith is shallow and weak, cowardly and a betrayer.

 

[DotCommunist]

I'd like Tarantino to do it. Or Peter Jackson.

Tarantino would ignore the source material and make a pastiche of half a dozen dystopian films he'd seen and slap a 1984 label on it.
Fuck that.