When I was a kid, I loved Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. People forget how bizarre and enchanting it was to see Michael Caine in that role, something faux-debonair, comedic and silly, considering his career up to that point was so heavy on the dramatic roles. Caine and Steve Martin originated the roles of two con men trying to woo a young heiress, and while the film is perfect as-is, it seems that everything old is new again and of course they’re going to remake it. I don’t feel the kneejerk of “they’re destroying my childhood” with this remake though. Mostly because this remake seems increasingly cool. Rebel Wilson has been attached to it for months, and now Anne Hathaway is circling the project too. I mean… that sounds like something I would watch. And it’s called NASTY WOMEN. Please. Take my money now.
Anne Hathaway is on the verge of becoming a nasty woman. EW has confirmed that the Academy Award-winner is in talks to star alongside Rebel Wilson in Nasty Women, a remake of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. The actresses will play dueling scam artists competing to con a naive tech prodigy out of his fortune.
Director Frank Oz’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels was released in 1988 and starred Steve Martin and Michael Caine as the criminal rivals. Wilson’s involvement in the upcoming version was reported back in August, before the new title was set. The Pitch Perfect star is producing the project with Roger Birnbaum (The Magnificent Seven). Jac Schaeffer, who also penned Hathaway’s upcoming film The Shower, wrote the screenplay.
This is the latest female driven team-up for Hathaway, who is joining Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, and more in Ocean’s Eight.
I mean… just the idea of Rebel Wilson and Anne Hathaway going to head-to-head to try to out-seduce a naïve tech guy is bringing a smile to my face. Considering I’m a Hathaway Apologist, I’ve always thought she was an underrated comedic actress. I also think Anne has had some issues getting the kinds of roles she wants and thinks she deserves, so she’s in the midst of some kind of career reboot. There seems to be an emphasis on more ensemble films, more crowd-pleasing comedies and that kind of thing. As for Rebel… I hope this is good.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
Those who think she’s not a good comedic actress need to see The Princess Diaries.
I loved Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; Caine and Martin are both hilarious but fun fact: it was not the original. The original movie was Bedtime Story in 1964 with Marlon Brando (in the Martin role) and David Niven (Caine’s character). I think Shirley Jones played the female protagonist.
Excellent point. It’s one of the few examples of the remake being much better than the original.
With this Hathaway-Wilson version, it sounds like they’re using the bare bones of the plotline and going with a different title, so it’s fine. They’re not merely riding on the coattails of affection people have for the original.
I don’t know why they keep on with the remakes, which are usually not even close to as good as the original. Cases in point: Karate Kid, Total Recall, Magnificent Seven, Fantastic Four. Ugh. Could they just stop?
And I may be the only person in the world who finds Rebel Wilson’s movie characters absolutely nauseating.
You’re not alone, Rebel’s the reason I won’t be seeing this.
rebel wilson is not funny neither is she likable. her humour is tiring. how many bombs does she have under her belt. she’s a white woman so of cause she will be given meaty roles after meaty roles. replace this two exhausting white women with lupita and keri Washington or gugu mbatha raw and Danielle brookes from orange is the new black.
Hollywood should start thinking outside the box. women of colour bring in lots of money at the box office its time to give them a chance.
Why not just write a completely original movie staring Anne & Rebel? I am so tired of remakes.
Ugh no. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a classic, why does Hollywood keep remaking everything? I also heard that there’s going to be a remake of White Men Can’t Jump. And someone please correct me if I’m wrong, but my understanding is that these remakes have not even been doing well at the box office. So why do they keep churning them out??
I feel like everything in the box office is the same. We have your super deep oscar baity films that really dont have a plot, “based on a true story” (although both loving and hidden figures made me sob), remake, sequel/superhero origin movie, Bro movie.
They’re running out of ideas. I’m sick of the remakes. I want originals. And I’ll be completely honest (probably gonna be ripped to shreds) I hate the remakes of classic movies where they shoehorn an all female cast. Make an original film! Bridesmaids was similar to the hangover but also very different and it was BETTER. Pitch Perfect is hugely popular and that’s a kick ass group of all girls. I’m just sick of the “classic movies but all girls!” It reminds me of those memes where the people are like “need a new idea…..change cast to girls!” And all their mouths are open in wonder.
Pass
This is basically the movie Heartbreakers, which was a great movie already.
Well, who knows until we see it. But I’m a little annoyed that they’re ripping off a political slogan to name their movie. It comes off as commercializing our women’s movement. And remaking films with women leads is perfectly fine, but it needs to stop being -such- a trend! I want to see more original screenplays made into women-centered films, like Hidden Figures. Could be reading too much into it, but these remakes feel like “now it’s our turn!” instead of giving women roles that are fresh, original, and new. We DON’T have to remake men’s tired old stories. We have our own stories to tell.
On a positive note – Anne is looking really good these days.
Yes to everything you said.
+100000
Why do you have to remake it? It’s already perfect. I hate remakes.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a remake / base off of Bedtime Story (1964) that starred Marlon Brando and David Niven.
This makes me sad! I hope they don’t tarnish a classic. Rebel best act, if I see a mirror image of her character in pitch perfect I’m done!
I will be there with bells on. Yes.
Especially, oh lordy lou please, if Richard Ayoade’s playing the guy they’re trying to seduce.
Remake – please stop. Caine/Martin version is a classic. I agree about commercializating/monetizing a critical expression of solidarity and dissent. My interest in the new movie is non-existent.
Re: Richard Ayode’s casting, the famale “mark” in the movie was played by Glenne Headly. She was dowdy for most of the movie.
Ayode’s comic mastery is amazing. He kills it onthe IT Crowd. In the episode “Final Countdown” the character Moss is fawned over. He becomescincredibly popular with a popular niche due to his winning streak on the game show “Countdown”. He is suave, very cool.