Is Bryan Singer Worthy Enough To Wield Excalibur?

It seems that Bryan Singer is a really big fan of the remake. First, we reported to you about his intentions to remake Battlestar Galactica, and now, hollywoodreporter.com is announcing his plans to remake another classic; 1981’s “Excalibur”. While this project is still in the very early stages, it appears that Legendary Pictures would be involved, and Warner Bros. is tying up the remake rights which it shares with John Boorman, who directed the original. Singer would be producing with Julie Yorn and Polly Johnsen.

“Excalibur” starred Nigel Terry as King Arthur, and Cherie Lunghi as Guenevere, his lady love. It also featured some before they were famous performances by Liam Neeson, Patrick Stewart and Gabriel Byrne. This is a story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Roundtable, and covered much of the life of King Arthur. It was a great but LONG movie. Very fantastical with some great visuals, it is a classic that needs to be viewed, if you have the time to do it in one sitting.

However, I’m not sure that King Arthur’s story is one that needs to be told yet again, the most recent rendition being Clive Owen’s King Arthur which was released by Disney/Touchstone in 2004. Not to mention the old Disney cartoon “The Sword in the Stone” which tells the story of a young Arthur, before he was king. And then there was the terrible “Merlin” with Sam Niell, and the “Merlin” TV series currently airing which is also, not so good, at least in my opinion. Granted, both are not based around Arthur, merely his mentor and wizard, but it’s all the same thing.

So yet another remake that may not be necessary, and once again it is being helmed by Bryan Singer. While not expected to be Singer’s next movie, it does hop on the list with Battlestar Galactica as 2 of the top 2 most pointless remakes waiting to be done by Bryan Singer. What’s next, a remake of The Usual Suspects? It doesn’t need it, but Singer will probably be interested.

18 Comments

		2009-08-24 18:08:24 DEATHDEALER NO.

		2009-08-24 19:08:23 MexicoJoe Singer owes us geeks, I hold him responsible for ruining two awesome franchises, he abandoned the X-Men (which led to 3 and from there to the piece of shit Wolverine) and fucked up the story in Superman, the fucker owes us

		2009-08-24 19:08:28 DEATHDEALER yeah he does owe us. But not by remaking an already classic story that has been told way to many times. Something new perhaps ...or is that just out of the question?

		2009-08-25 07:08:42 Fisticufflinks Wow... Singer hate. Personally, I like the guy. I would love to see a movie about Excalibur with Singer helming.

		2009-08-25 10:08:26 MexicoJoe i don't really hate him, I just think he made some bad decisions with letting go of all the hard work he did to set up x-men and with the plot of Superman, Valkyrie was pretty cool

		2009-08-25 11:08:40 DeadLogan At least he will have a historically coherent surprise-son to his main character with this plot.

		2009-08-25 12:08:21 SupaScoot I cant quite say i hate Singer, i may even be rooting for him, he is a good director, but he needs something to win me back, and this is not it

		2009-08-25 13:08:09 DEATHDEALER I don't hate Singer one bit. I think he's great! But he did greatly disappoint me with Superman Returns, while leaving X-Men high and dry. I loved Valkyrie though! I just don't think it's necessary for yet another King Arthur movie.

		2009-08-25 14:08:39 Zombiezeus @DEATHDEALER: I would agree, BUT--Warren Ellis is working on an untitled Arthurian project which I am genetically unable to resist being excited about, AND, for the most part (at least in America), today's youth is largely unaware of the Arthurian legend and it occasionally needs a big-budget refresher in the cultural mindset. Bryan Singer is a capable director--X2 and Usual Suspects kick ass--but this might not be the right material for him.

		2009-08-25 15:08:57 DEATHDEALER @Zombiezeus: True! ..or they could pick up the classic novel,Excalibur, OR, maybe they could save a few million dollars and release a graphic novel of the epic tale. OR!! Warren Ellis could write the script and hand it to Mel Gibson or Ridley Scott? :) Either way, i am on board.

		2009-08-25 15:08:32 SupaScoot Mel Gibson? really?

		2009-08-25 15:08:59 DEATHDEALER Yeah! Mel Gibson, in my opinion, is the most pure/relentless/stays true to a story/under-appreciated/badass director working on film these days. He hasn't done much, but when he does, i'm completely %100 engaged! He understands the structural workings of great storytelling and knows exactly how to film it. My only wish is that he do more!

		2009-08-25 16:08:18 DEATHDEALER Apocalypto- best film to be released in 2006.

		2009-08-25 16:08:59 DEATHDEALER He intertwines fact with myth perfectly, and cohesively together.

		2009-08-25 16:08:09 DeadLogan I liked Apocalypto very much too.

		2009-08-25 19:08:35 MexicoJoe amen deathdealer, amen

		2009-08-26 16:08:33 Zombiezeus Mel IS a hell of a director. Knowing his personal prejudices mar things for me quite a bit, but from a purely technical/cinematic standpoint, he's a great filmmaker. "Apocalypto" fucking rocked.

		2009-08-26 17:08:55 DEATHDEALER @Zombiezeus: I believe everyone carries personal prejudices to some extent, whether they admit it or not. unfortunately Mel voiced his publicly and while intoxicated, so that was a bad move on his part. -And not to mention he was raised that way. Either way, He's awesome and makes up for it with his films!