Nordling here.
It was bound to happen eventually - we've already seen SEVEN SAMURAI remade a few times, YOJIMBO as well, and Akira Kurosawa's films have influenced and inspired every filmmaker alive at this point, even if not directly. Now, according to Variety, Splendent Media has bought the rights to over 60 of the Master's films and screenplays, including RASHOMON, RED BEARD, and many other titles. This deal does not include SEVEN SAMURAI, IKIRU, HIGH AND LOW, and DRUNKEN ANGEL, which are already all in various stages of development. But it's very possible we could be seeing remakes to films like RAN, or KAGEMUSHA, or even films like THE BAD SLEEP WELL. I'm usually fairly forgiving when it comes to remakes - I think every film has that potential to be great - but the idea of someone remaking RED BEARD or STRAY DOG feels like a punch to the gut.
There is some good news however - the deal includes 19 screenplays that have never been filmed. So it's very possible we could see an Akira Kurosawa-scripted film that has never before seen the light of day. That alone should be worth celebrating, although there's a distinct possibility that some screenwriter could mangle the Master's work and sell a few more Happy Meals in the process. But seeing a new Akira Kurosawa work on the big screen sounds incredibly exciting.
Nordling, out.
