Ya know... I love Paul Verhoeven. Nobody makes me smile like this Dutchman. As much as I wanted to see Paul Verhoeven's look at the life of HITLER.... I have to say that I'm far far more interested and compelled to see PAUL VERHOEVEN'S JESUS CHRIST. Try to shut your eyes and see this film. Come on. Try it. Ahhhhhh... see? Wasn't that fun?
Hello Harry,
I think I might have a scoop. Unlike most of your spies I don't live in a place where important film news is regularly unveiled. The Netherlands is not a place to get great scoops, although the low countries have won three best foreign film oscars in the past fourteen years. My news therefor doesn't involve any film that is shot on Dutch soil, though I'll inform you if a potential Oscar winner is coming your way again. No, my scoop deals with one of Holland's most successful directors, and I don't mean Jan de Bont.
Paul Verhoeven was in The Netherlands for a few days, and he spoke on a seminar organized by the Faculty of Theology of the University of Utrecht. The theme of this seminar is "Jezus Christus, niet te filmen," which loosely translates as: Jesus Christ, Impossible to Film. ('Niet te filmen' also means Unbelievable.) Verhoeven revealed that his next project, after wrapping up The Hollow Man, will be the real life story of Jesus Christ. Paul Verhoeven clarified that a bit later on. He is not going to base the script directly on the scriptures of the new testament, but on a historical reconstruction of the life of Jesus Christ. From what I gathered from his speech and the interview that followed is that this not going to be a version that sets to please the Bible belt. He mentioned things like Jesus fornicating, presumably with Mary Magdalene, and Jesus doing other things not so divine. If the things Verhoeven told will be true, this film will be more controversial than Martin Scorsese's "The Last Temptation of Christ."
Verhoeven also said that the script is still being written as we speak and will probably not be finished 'till another six months have passed. He also still has to procure the sixty million dollars necessary to shoot the film. So don't expect the shooting to begin until the end of the year and it to reach the cinema not until late in 2002, if it gets made at all...
This is a movie that is bound to be controversial, if not sacrilegious, so I'm in serious doubt if Verhoeven will be able to find the financial backing for this project. Verhoeven has his reputation against him on that part. Some of you might remember that Verhoeven has been trying to make a movie version of the crusades for ages, but never has been able to get the project financed, even with the name of Arnold Schwarzenegger attached to it. (Hey, here's a thought. Are Sly and Arnie still looking for a project to collaborate on? Maybe Arnie as Richard the Lionheart and Sly as Saladin, with Verhoeven at the helm... Nah, they never would go for it.)
Well, as for Jesus, I guess it's just wait and see.
The Spying Dutchman.
