Remake watch: 'Captain Blood' edition

I have to admit that when I first read that Warner Bros. was moving forward with a remake of "Captain Blood" I did a Web-style double take, convinced I had clicked on the Onion by mistake. According to Variety, the studio decided that the best way to usher the beloved 1935 Errol Flynn pirate classic into the modern world was by setting the movie ... in outer space!

But it's no joke, even though producer Bill Gerber admits that when he first heard filmmakers Michael and Peter Spierig ("Undead") tout the project he thought he'd been transported to the scene in "The Player" where Buck Henry pitches an equally outlandish sequel to "The Graduate." The studio has hired screenwriter John Brownlow to work with the Spierig brothers on an updated story, where the pirates will presumably look more like Starfleet troopers than bearded ruffians.

When I called Gerber, he was matter-of-fact about the changes. "When it comes to swashbuckling, you just couldn't go back to the pirate era, not once you've experienced the juggernaut that is 'Pirates of the Caribbean,' '' he explains. "So we needed to find a new way to tell the story."

For Gerber, the best option was not a present-day story involving the Somali pirates -- who are probably too vile and desperate to base an entertainment around -- but a story set a couple of hundred years in the future. "It's still the classic 'Captain Blood' storyline: Peter Blood has been wronged by the powers-that-be and he wants to get even. But the best way to recreate that is by putting it in space, where you can have a totalitarian style of government that's actually pretty similar to what England was like in the 17th century."

The six degrees of separation: Being on the inside in Hollywood really helps. It turns out that one of the key people to recommend the Spierig brothers to Gerber was Warner distribution chief Dan Fellman, whose son, Todd, is a producer on "Daybreakers," a vampire film the brothers just directed that is slated to premiere at the Toronto Film Festival before hitting theaters in January.

What you can read between the lines: If you want to remake an old thriller, you'd better find a way to make it in a modern-day setting; or, even better, in the world of the future. At today's studios, especially when it comes to summer adventure extravaganzas, period films have become absolute box-office poison. 

Odds of a new 'Captain Blood' coming to a multiplex near you: 35%. Obviously it will need a good script and the right kind of young star -- do we hear any votes for Robert Pattinson? -- who could possibly fill the big shoes of Errol Flynn. Futuristic thrillers have a very mixed track record, but Warner loves brand-name movies and is especially eager to get new franchises off the ground, so if the ingredients come together "Captain Blood" could make it to the starting gate.

Previously: The remake watch: "Big Valley" edition

Comments

[jane]

Pattinson would be perfect for the role. His fans on IMDB have bee saying for the last year that he is a mixture of Errol Flynn and James Dean. He has a timeless quality to him and can fit any genre and seems just right for this production.

[Helen]

Ive always wanted Rob Pattinson to play the lead in Dune but this sounds just up his alleyway as well. Pattinson has the height and presence to pull it off and would make all the women swoon. I really dont think it suits a jock like american.

[Marnye]

Completely idiotic. Who needs a remake of this movie? Most remakes are vile and can never equal the original. Erroll Flynn was too iconic in that movie.
I love Robert Pattinson, so I want to spare him the embarrassement of this remake. Let guys like Tatum Channing or Zac Ef make fools of themselves. Rob deserves better than this, he is not an idiot, he would turn down such a stupid concept.

[Gaby]

Captain Blood in space??? HELL NO!!!

How can Warner even consider that they'd be ruining a classic!!
And no offense I love Robert Pattinson but playing a role who was marvelously done by Flynn!! there's a huge difference between both of them!! I'm sure he'd be smart enough to realize this!

C'mon Warner!! if you really must to do this, please be true to the story and the spirit that made this movie a classic!!

[Xaviant Haze]

This would be ridiculous !!
What hollywood needs is my big screen Bio of Errol Flynn starring Orlando Bloom!
That would make a lot more sense!

[David Blood]

As someone with the last name of Blood who has a great fondness for the Captain Blood story (both novel and movie) I'd actually like to see an updated movie. I love science fiction too. But I would NEVER want to see this great classic stories setting changed to the future and space. Please keep the setting and story true to the original.