Writer Steven Knight Gives Brief Update About "VERTIGO" Remake
Image Courtesy Of Paramount Pictures
Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 classic “VERTIGO” took audiences to dizzying heights, redefining fear in a whole new way. Now, a remake is in the works, and we have the latest updates on its development—details below!
Back in 2023, Paramount Pictures announced plans to remake the 1958 classic “VERTIGO”, immediately capturing the attention of film fans—especially with the news that Robert Downey Jr. would be stepping into the iconic role originally played by Jimmy Stewart. However, since that announcement, updates on the project have been few and far between. That is, until now—our friends at The Direct recently spoke with the film’s writer, Steven Knight, to get the latest details. They aren’t groundbreaking but at least the project is still moving forward.
“It’s swirling around in my head as we speak,” Knight told The Direct when asked about the “VERTIGO” remake. Taking on a Hitchcock classic is no small feat, and Knight is well aware of the challenge. He humorously acknowledged the pressure, saying, “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.”
WATCH THE ORIGINAL TRAILER FOR “VERTIGO” BELOW
The soundtrack alone for “Vertigo” is downright bone-chilling and the film made major headlines when it was released in 1958 and further catapulted Alfred Hitchcock towards the now agreed upon moniker “The Master Of Suspense.” We loved every aspect of this film and Jimmy Stewart was completely believable as John 'Scottie' Ferguson. With Kim Novak being Stewart’s leading lady in the picture, the two were an amazing duo on screen and gave riveting performances still lauded today.
The original synopsis for the film is as follows:
"A retired San Francisco police detective suffering from acrophobia is hired to follow the wife of an old acquaintance to uncover the mystery of her peculiar behavior. As he becomes obsessed with the woman, his fears and desires intertwine in a dizzying spiral of deception, love, and psychological torment."
Knight’s deep reverence for Hitchcock and the original film is evident, and he doesn’t downplay the complexity of the task. He compares the adaptation process to something as intricate as dismantling an explosive. “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.”
What can we take away from the above statements? For one, it is very apparent that Knight knows how serious this new project will be, and two, of course, that he is actively still writing the new take on the classic flick.
With Robert Downey Jr. set to star as well as produce the film, we have a feeling that whenever it does see the light of day, it will take us to heights just as scary and overwhelming as the Hitchcock classic we all know and love.
As of this writing, there is no official release date scheduled for “VERTIGO.”
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