You don’t mess with greatness. You just don’t. Gus Van Sant learned that the hard way with his 1998 remake of Hitchcock’s “Psycho.” However, Robert Downey Jr. didn’t get the memo. He’s decided to embark on a remake of Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” — one of the greatest films ever made.
Back in March 2023, Paramount had acquired the rights to the remake, with Steven Knight (“Peaky Blinders”) set to pen the screenplay. No filmmaker has so far been tapped, just yet, but, man, I’d hate to be in that director’s chair.
In an exclusive interview with The Direct, Knight has given us an update on the film, and it’s definitely happening. Knight does acknowledge he is “an idiot” in attempting to adapt the classic film, but he’s willing to take the risk.
It’s swirling around my head as we speak. I'm having flashbacks to about an hour ago when I was writing. It's an interesting—I mean, of course, people consider it the best film ever made. So you'd have to be an idiot to adapt it, and so that's what I am.
These comments from Knight seem to confirm that work is actively happening on the remake. Despite believing himself to be an “idiot,” Knight compared writing the “Vertigo” remake to “diffusing a second World War time bomb," and that’s part of the excitement for him.
But, you know, I like stuff like that. I like it. It's just so weird to try and do it and just give it a go. Taking that plot apart is like diffusing a second World War time bomb. It's all over. It's very complex, but it's what's occupying my waking hours.
Downey had previously spoken with The New York Times and explained his thinking behind trying to remake the Hitchcock classic by making the wild claim that his version could potentially be even better than the 1959 film:
Not even risky. Advisably ridiculous to even consider [remaking “Vertigo”]. Great, let’s look into it! First of all, who would our partners be in it? Love them, respect them. Second of all, let me reread the original synopsis. I think we can do better. [Laughs.]
I say, leave the classics alone. Hitchcock can't be recreated. Only honored. Don't do this, Paramount, Downey, Knight, please.
Regardless, ballsy move, remaking what is arguably the greatest film ever made — it’s most definitely in my all-time top 10. A perfect film, with no flaws whatsoever, and which gets better with every new viewing. A remake is an absolutely useless and potentially catastrophic endeavor.