One of the 20th century's greatest writers of crime thrillers was Dashiell Hammett, and one of his most popular works was the story of a socialite husband and wife team that solved a murder. The Thin Man appeared on book racks in the year 1934, and just like the way Hollywood works today, movie producers snapped up the rights before the publication and released a movie in the same year. Both were hugely successful.
Hammett would never write another novel again (even though he died three decades later) but the public wanted more of Nick and Nora Charles (played by William Powell and Myrna Loy in the movie.) Subsequently, five sequels were made in the years that followed, continuing the detective adventures of Nick and Nora. A TV series even hit the airwaves after the movies' box office returns began to diminish.
Possibly motivated by the fresh contemporary take that Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law brought to Sherlock Holmes, Johnny Depp and his production company Infinitum Nihil are now working on a remake of The Thin Man. As with most of what Depp's company acquires, the project is being developed as a possible starring vehicle for the Pirates of the Caribbean star. And rather appropriately, the new director of the Pirates franchise, Rob Marshall, who is working with Depp right now on Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, is attached to direct this new version of The Thin Man.
What would be downright fascinating would be if Depp has also spoken with his co-star on The Tourist about playing his on-screen wife in this new Thin Man movie. That would be Angelina Jolie.
The project is at Warner Bros. and is still early enough in its development that no writer has been hired to work on a screenplay.
I'd vote for either Catherine Zeta Jones or Marion Cotillard as Nora. You need someone acerbic who can really make banter sparkle. The dialogue and chemistry between the two characters is what makes this movie. The original is one of my all-time favs, please please please don't eff this up!
It'll end up being that chick from Here's a Doobie for Your Walk (not that I have a problem with her).
I hope it's a period piece. If it is, I want someone who would look believable as a flapper.
it should be a time travel peice bringing Nic and Nora to 2015 and solving a murder.
by the way Patrick, if Hammett wrote the novel.... who is this Hammond person you speak of? and why did he only write the one novel and never wrote again?
Add Comment
The Swollen Goi...
Location:
Posts: 12546
Posted: 2 years 30 weeks ago
I'm all for this, but it if it doesn't get a serviceable Nora (and if she and Depp have no chemistry), it won't be won't be worth it.