2012 brought reports that Nicholas Winding Refn (Drive, Only God Forgives) was attached to a remake of the ‘80s cult classic, Maniac Cop teaming up with the original helmer, William Lustig as producers. The project came to fruition from Winding Refn’s love for pop cinema and his friendship with Lustig but it got pushed back due to scheduling conflicts. Today we’re happy to report that that is no longer the case as things appear to be falling into place at last.
Paris-based distribution and production company Wild Bunch has announced their Cannes sales slate and the aforementioned remake, which has been revealed to have been penned by Ed Brubaker, will be making it’s way over to the Festival City.
Brubaker is a comic book writer and cartoonist, having written for comics such as Batman and Captain America as well as his own series such as ‘Criminal’ which he wrote with British comic book artist, Sean Philips. Worthy of note is that Brubaker actually created the Winter Soldier storyline and actually made a cameo appearance in the recent film as the Chris Evans’ Handler.
Wild Bunch certainly don’t have the right to remain silent … forever as everyone wants all the gruesome details as soon as possible. You’ll be happy to hear that once they get to the festival they will also be revealing the film’s director. Winding Refn has often stated he doesn’t see himself as the right person to direct the remake given his profuse admiration for the original. He has been offered various ‘80s remake gigs in the past but turned them down as he feels he’s too old to take them on as they were films that form a part of his own identity.
We’ll just have to wait and see which fresh blood Wild Bunch have opted for but who do you think would be the right person for the job? Give us you opinions below. Whatever the case, with the likes of RoboCop and WolfCop on the scene right now, Maniac Cop will be welcomed back on duty with wide open arms.
We’ll leave you with the original trailer to remind you how we have the right to adore this film…forever…
