Way back in January, we heard about Zoe Saldana’s new starring role in a remake of Rosemary’s Baby. The original 1968 film was adapted by Roman Polanski and based upon the book by Ira Levin. The movie (not the director) was a sweeping majesty of atmosphere and characterization. There was never a reason to remake this movie on either the big or small screens, but NBC couldn’t resist crafting a miniseries from the story. Seriously, they’re going to hammer four hours out of this mess.
From the looks of things, this remake makes several detours from Polanski’s classic adaptation. Zoe reprises the Mia Farrow role and plays a pregnant wife who finds out she’s carrying the spawn of Satan. The husband’s profession has changed from actor to writer, and the setting has moved from NYC to Paris. Creepy neighbors with an ulterior motive are still present. Whether or not you’ve seen the original movie, I think you’ll agree that NBC wasted its efforts with this trailer:
Poor Zoe. She’s wearing an awful wig, and this is a silly remake. I have to wonder why Zoe’s agent okayed her signing onto a television remake in the first place. Zoe may not technically be an A-list star, but she’s starred in several high profile movies. She’s part of the Avatar and Star Trek franchises and has a plum role in the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy. She’s done some indie cred movies. I don’t get why she’d gain anything from a network remake of a horror movie? This movie looks like it spent all of its budget on casting. The lighting and atmosphere are terrible, and the sound effects (as revealed) do not lend any suspense. As Vulture notes, the screenwriters couldn’t even get the grammar right in the trailer.
Here’s Zoe on set in January in Paris. She’s acting, not crying for real. Yet.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet & NBC
It looks awful.
As does that horrid wig!
Who gave the OK to that wig?? Why did she agree to wear it??
Does Ron Burgandy know she has his hair??
So many questions
@Lindy
LOLOLOL!!!!!! Ha ha ha! Ron Burgundy!!! Gurl…you made me LOL and I spit my tea out!!!
Why does this girl continue to get roles,: her acting is not that good in my opinion.
In the see of beautiful people with no acting skills who get plenty of work in Hollywood, she’s not that bad.
Tatjana
But she’s not that good either.
And I liked the original movie. Had such nightmares growing up from it. This looks horrible and there was no need or want for it.
I feel so sorry for her. First people don’t want her to play Nina Simone and now this.
Hollywood, leave the classics alone
Looks like Halle Berry’s old Monsters Ball wig got used again.
LMAO
Did anyone read the book? It’s so creepy. Ira Levin is the master of short and creepy. Stepford Wives is another example, so understated and will get under your skin.
Anyway yes this looks awful. The Mia Farrow one was pretty accurate to the book, especially in overall mood and pace.
As far as the “who/whom”, most people I know don’t use is correctly so maybe they were trying to be accurate about how people actually talk. I use whom correctly because I’m uptight like that, but most people don’t give a crap.
I kind of loved the book, that and Stepford Wives. They are so campy, creepy, and fun. They are also very well written. I didn’t see the original movie nor will I watch this mess. But I will probably reread the book at some point.
Love the book! I love the original movie too. John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, Mia Farrow and Sidney Blackmer! And hello…the Laura-Louise character was so good…in a creepy way.
I never saw the original movie but I love the book so yeah…I’m not enthused about this miniseries. Why does everything need to be remade? Sigh.
Stop everything you’re doing and see it. It’s that good. But try to illegally download it or something so Polanski doesn’t get any of your money
LOL, will do. I’ve always wanted to see it but it just kept slipping my mind. And yeah, I will make sure that Polanski doesn’t get any of my hard-earned money. 😛
Sounds shallow but if not only to just see Mia’s infamous haircut and style. The whole movie is one of the greats.
I think she fits in a role like this. She’s not a very good actress.
Well i can’t comment really because i have never watched the original. Let me see if i can find it somewhere.
This looks bad, but I wasn’t blown away with Mia’s acting in the original either.
Ditto. I thought she was very wooden.
Agreed. Mia is a pretty bad actress as well. I’m meh on this remake, but that awful wig really disturbs me.
Even so, I still liked the movie. It was one of my first horror flicks.
Wasn’t it meant to be wooden? Satan wasn’t going to inhabit a self-aware or “dynamic” person.
If there was ever a movie that didn’t need a remake it’s this is the one. Poltergeist is another movie being remade that doesn’t need it.
I’m still praying the Poltergeist remake doesn’t ever get released.
I just can’t see how they will top it without resorting to the usual things you see in every horror/paranormal activity movie at the moment. Especially given that Sam Raimi is directing, I’m expecting it to be utter pants.
There’s a 2015 release date. So, it looks like it’s happening.
Poltergeist is being remade??? That is a travesty. No remake can EVER touch that movie and will be a waste of time. I also loved the original Rosemary’s Baby, and the book, and that’s another one that just shouldn’t be touched. I really wonder about a lot of these remakes. One can never touch the original—why bother?
This is a terrible idea! Rosemary’s Baby is a classic and it cannot be remade any better than the original. Somebody must be hard up for material.
I know!! What’s with remaking perfectly good movies that were made the first time around?
So many examples… the one that immediately comes to mind is Total Recall. EPIC amazing 90s movie! Loved it. And new one was just so, so bad.
And yes, she’s a terrible whiny actress. I mean, as a blue alien she was good, but the sigraphics were doing most of the acting..
Here’s another example: The Crow is being remade. And last I heard, Bradley Cooper was attached to it. Now there’s a 90s classic that shouldn’t be touched for a million different reasons, including the heartbreaking tragedy of Brandon Lee.
BRADLEY COOPER?!?!?!?
NERD RAAAAAAAGE…….
The Crow is being remade, but with Luke Evans, not Cooper.
And it’s still listed as pre-production, so maybe it won’t actually get made. (crosses fingers)
I can’t get past the wig and I bet others can’t either. It’s a remake. Why not she let her use her natural hair?
I can’t get past the wig and I bet others can’t either. It’s a remake. Why not she let her use her natural hair?
The reason the original worked so well was because it managed to do what almost no horror film now can get right, and that is DREAD. By today’s standards, Rosemary’s Baby probably doesn’t even count as horror. It has almost no violence, no gore. It works because the whole film is mental in nature. It has what Black Swan tried to do, but Natalie Portman’s facial contortions went and messed it all up.
Looks more like a Devil’s Advocate remake than Rosemary’s Baby.
Oh, and it looks dreadful.
I don’t blame her for taking the part – how many leading roles in “event” television movies does a woman of color get offered (that’s not specifically offered because she *is* a WOC)?
But it looks like crap. Sorry, Zoe.
Zoe is beautiful, but not a very talented actress. She tries to play dramatic parts, but much like Nicole Beharie (who is a better actress IMO) she makes strange faces that come off as funny rather than serious. I always remember Colombiana, and how I had to turn that ridiculous movie off because I just couldn’t take her seriously. She is in blockbusters, but only as part of ensemble cast. She doesn’t have what it takes to be an A lister, or carry a film (even a mini series) on her own.
I’ll give this new Rosemary’s Baby a try, but I’m not expecting to enjoy it, or even make it all the way through. The trailer looks so dumb.
I have yet to see a remake that was worth the time and effort to make it. Total Recall is an excellent example. The first one was a tad bit campy, but enjoyable anyway. The remake was actually painful to watch – just mega awful. The original Rosemary’s Baby was so on the mark I can’t believe somebody is going to pollute the memory. My grandkids saw the Karate Kid remake with Jaden Smith. When they visited me I played the ORIGINAL Karate Kid with Ralph Macchio. They watched it, transfixed, and at the end said, “Well, that one was GOOD.”
I think the powers that be just don’t want to pay for good writers.
I liked Zoe in star wars, thought she was very good, and I don’t understand why she would take this part.