That ‘Strangers On A Train’ Remake May Face Big Delays
AfterGone Girl, authorGillian Flynnwas quickly established as a screenwriter and developer of TV and film projects. One project announced last year that raised eyebrows more than any other was aremakeofStrangers on a Train, the Alfred Hitchcock film in which a theoretical conversation between two men about murdering each others' respective relations turns into real murder.
Flynn was reported to be teaming withGone GirldirectorDavid Fincherand starBen Affleckon the film, with a slightly new take on the story that would establish it as a modern tale while likely retaining some of the thrill of the original. But that is just one of many projects for Flynn (and Fincher) and the author now suggests theStrangers on a Trainremake is a ways off, at best.
Vulturetalked to Flynn at the after-party for the US premiere of the filmDark Places, which stars Charlize Theron and is based on another Flynn novel. She said ofStrangers on a Train,
That over-commitment comes in part viaUtopia, the remake of a BBC series that Flynn and Fincher are assembling for HBO. That has been casting up, and will likely occupy the two for some time. Flynn, by the way, called that “a dark conspiracy thriller based around nerds who find a graphic novel that may or may not be telling bad secrets to the future” when speaking to Vulture.
And Flynn is also writingWidowsfor12 Years a Slavedirector Steve McQueen, about “mob widows who come together and pull off the heist that their husbands couldn’t.” So that’s another bigStrangersroadblock.
Finally, you’ve probably heard about Ben Affleck being busy — he’s going to directLive By Night, then has to do theJustice Leaguefilm before co-writing, directing, and starring in his ownBatmanmovie. And, sure, he could be recast inStrangers, but given that everyone else is also quite busy, this one may just be back-burnered for a good while.
