Warners Eyes 'Rambo" Writer's 'The Brotherhood of the Rose'
Filed under: Action, Thrillers, Warner Brothers, Remakes and Sequels
Warner Bros. is developing a new adaptation of David Morrell's novel The Brotherhood of the Rose, which was previously made into a TV miniseries back in 1989. The book tells the story of twin brothers two orphans adopted by the CIA who are raised as perfect assassins and then are themselves hunted by the CIA. I don't remember the NBC version -- if I heard the title back then I probably mistook it for The Name of the Rose -- but I'm now pretty interested. It stars a young David Morse and an old Robert Mitchum, and Morrell is the author of the novel-turned-Rambo-franchise First Blood. Unfortunately, it is only available on VHS, and though I could order it online, I'd rather rent it -- something that isn't an easy option in my neck of the woods anymore. Maybe as the new movie gets closer to arriving in theaters, someone will realize it's a good idea to get the old one onto DVD.
The new project seems to be a hopeful substitute for Universal's similar Bourne movies once that franchise (likely) ends with this summer's The Bourne Ultimatum. It may even try too hard and be an obvious copycat, but if Warners gets a decent duo to play the twins and a quality action director, it shouldn't matter if we feel we've seen it all before. Action thrillers about spies who find out they're being targeted are a very, very old concept, and they never really get tired. Basil Iwanyk, who is producing Brotherhood, is even planning a remake of Spies Like Us, which is in many ways a comedic take on the Bourne/Brotherhood/etc. premise. Once again, it's another unnecessary remake, and it won't have anything as funny as the original's "Doctor, Doctor" scene, but I love any movie involving spies (real or fictional), so I'll probably guiltily see it. That reminds me, when the heck are we going to get the long promised Spy vs. Spy movie?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-30-2009 @ 6:32AM
Lou Cipher said...
As a David Morell fan - the movie studios have a huge selection of excellent novel to choose from. I'd like to see more originallity from them instead of naff remakes of second rate movies. Halloween et al.
If the do make a new version of Brotherhood - fine and if it is a success - they can do the others in that trilogy
Fraternity of the Stone
League of Night and Fog
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7-09-2007 @ 2:44PM
YouFaceTheTick said...
The book was fairly tight. The TV movie starred David Morse and Pete Strauss. For a TV movie it was pretty sharp. what the guys did well and what couldn't be shown on tv: they killed with lethal precision. It wasn't any of this Alias crap where people do kung fu for 20 minutes. My guess is they'll scrap most of the goings-on like Bourne and just opt for the general characters and stories.
Updating the script might be the biggest hurdle. And the director will be a big key element. Hire a no-talent ass-clown like Greengrass and the movie will suck as long and as hard as the last bourne film. Hire a good director - Liman? - and you'd get a tight, fast-moving, intelligent, nicely shot flick.
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7-09-2007 @ 2:48PM
YouFaceTheTick said...
I should add that I read the book when I was like 14. Obviously, my expectations were much lower at 14 and it's probably just another generic spy book. 19 years ago it seemed pretty cool though...
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7-09-2007 @ 4:04PM
Christopher Campbell said...
Glad to see someone else prefers Liman to Greengrass -- though I wouldn't say the latter has no talent. Thanks for the reader's perspective!
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7-09-2007 @ 4:25PM
TimCost said...
It's been awhile, but I'm pretty sure they weren't twins. They were both orphans raised together and trained together by the same spy master.
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7-09-2007 @ 5:04PM
Christopher Campbell said...
You are right, TimCost. I must have assumed they were brothers because in the TV version they were named Romulus and Remus. Oops. I bet the new film will use the names Chris and Saul. Thanks for the correction.
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7-09-2007 @ 8:35PM
YouFaceTheTick said...
Romulus and Remus were their code names, not real names, as far as I remember. It'd be hell going through life with those names...even if they are related to the founding of Rome.
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7-10-2007 @ 7:46AM
Michael said...
I'm a huge Morrell fan and this book was a terrific read. Best part, it has its own set of sequels in "Fraternity of the Stone" and "League of Night and Fog". If this first film turns out as well as the Bourne series (and there is no reason to believe it won't) then it sets up for an excellent trilogy of films.
I've always wondered why there weren't more Morrell books that made it to film. He's easily as good an author as Tom Clancy or John Grisham and we've had many of their respective books brought to the cinema. Perhaps this will begin a string of his work making it to the silver screen. Hope this one is a HUGE hit!
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