Remaking a classic: Italian Job 2003
25 February 2003
Coming to a cinema near you in May 2003 (if you live in the States, autumn 2003 everywhere else) is the remake of the iconic 1969 film The Italian Job. This time starring Mark Wahlberg, not Michael Caine, as Charlie Croker.
For anyone worried that the remake would sully the name of the original, star Charlize Theron (speaking to Entertainment Tonight in November 2002) reassures us that they'll not being going down the Get Carter route of a complete remake:
"What we're doing is keeping the Minis, the character names -- that whole aspect of having a fun ride is still completely in there -- but the story and the motivation and why all of this is taking place is for completely different reasons," explains Charlize. "When you're doing a remake, especially something like this that is such a cult classic in Europe, it's nice to give people the elements they loved in the original but then spice it up with something that they don't expect."
Wahlberg himself does not have a great track record with remakes. Planet of the Apes disappointed fans of the original, while The Truth About Charlie - a remake of of the Cary Grant/Audrey Hepburn classic, Charade, co-starring Thandie Newton - failed to ignite the box-office in the US and has not been released in the UK.
But the cast does give room for optimism. Aside from Wahlberg and Theron, Donald Sutherland will feature as the Mr Bridger character, the father of Theron in this version. Ed Norton will play Charlie Croker's rival and nemesis, who sets him up for the job, hoping he'll fail.
Also in the cast is another CitizenCaine favourite and Caine co-star, Seth Green (Austin Powers). Green and the rest of the cast got a particular kick out of the Minis and did many of their own stunts. "Charlize and Mark and Jason [Statham] have all learned how to do emergency brake slides and controlled 360's -- those cars are fun," he commented.
Not all in the camp is quite so rosy, though. Co-star Edward Norton has made it clear that only contractual obligations have seen him cast in the project. Norton signed a three-movie deal with Paramount early in his career but so far has only made one film (Primal Fear). Norton has even returned the brand new Mini Cooper the studio sent him on the first day of shooting. According to WWEN, the note attached read "Why don't you give this to someone you like - or someone who likes you?"