Craig Brewer Remaking 'Smokey and the Bandit'?
Filed under: Action, Comedy, 20th Century Fox, Newsstand
Have you ever thought, "Gee, I wish somebody would make an update of the 70's classic, Smokey and the Bandit?" Probably not, but it looks like you're going to be getting one anyway. The Hollywood Reporter announced that Craig Brewer, of Hustle and Flow fame, has just signed to write and direct Mother Trucker for New Regency. Trucker will be Brewer's first film since 2006's Black Snake Moan, which was met with mixed reviews to say the least. Brewer has been working on the music-centered Web series $5 Cover for MTV, but he appears to be ready to get back to the big screen.Trucker is based on an article by Steven Russell, which originally appeared in Maxim magazine. Russell's article was about a man who led the police on a merry chase in a big rig for the noblest of reasons: a sick mom. According to THR, Brewer's script will center on a "man who escapes from jail, steels an 18-wheeler and heads across the South to see his dying mother." The feature was pitched as an "action-comedy", as well as an update on the 1977 Burt Reynolds and Jackie Gleason chase flick, Smokey and the Bandit.
Back in March, Eric had brought us the news that Brewer would be directing a feature film version of Sudhir Venkatesh's book Gang Leader for a Day, and since Trucker is still in the early stages of development, we will have to see which flick is going to reach the finish line first. Personally, I'm rooting for Gang Leader, because I'm a sucker for all-things 'Freakonomic'. Not to mention the only other 'trucker movies' I could think of were Over the Top and Black Dog, and those particular flicks probably aren't the best calling card for the genre.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-13-2009 @ 8:30PM
YouFaceTheTick said...
Golly, this is something to look forward to. A Craig Brewer movie is always good for Disneyfied themes with misogynistic overtones. Maybe he can glamorize another despicable profession too... You know it's hard out here for a pimp.
Reply
1-13-2009 @ 9:58PM
TtheB1233 said...
So it's a guy being chased by the cops? In what other way does this have anything to do with Smokey and the Bandit? Definitely not a "remake."
Reply
1-13-2009 @ 10:29PM
DarkAgair said...
I would say one more trucker movie for sure would be Convoy, I'd look forward to another Trucker Movie as there are so few
Reply
1-13-2009 @ 11:04PM
Jim said...
Hunh. Next thing you know, some studio executive will be greenlighting a big screen adaptation of BJ and The Bear.
Um, maybe I should stop before I give anybody any ideas.
Reply
1-15-2009 @ 10:26AM
GL said...
That would be great. Only the animal would actually be a bear and BJ would be a bounty hunter hired to track down the bear, which escaped from a Russian circus in a moving van he learned to drive by watching TV.
The perfect BJ and the Bear remake. True to the original, but updated for the sensibilities of today's movie-goers.
1-14-2009 @ 12:07AM
John B said...
And all this time I thought the movie was about getting beer in Texarkana. Little did I know that the beer must have been a symbol for his mother.
{ face palm }
Reply
1-14-2009 @ 10:37AM
jrodliebs said...
I for one thoroughly enjoyed the short lived TV series remake of Smokey and the Bandit that traded in the Trans Am for a Dodge Stealth and a mustache-less protagonist ... ughh. So surely any remake, even one remotely related to the original material, can't be worse. right? right????
Reply
1-14-2009 @ 10:59AM
Christopher Campbell said...
I actually have long desired a return of the trucker and long-distance driving movies of the 70s and 80s, particularly an update on Smokey and the Bandit. But if this film has no Trans-Am, it's not even close to that film.
Reply
1-14-2009 @ 5:32PM
Fred said...
Does "Duel" count as a trucker movie? If so, it pwns.
Reply
1-19-2009 @ 10:21PM
Mono-K said...
I believe a remake of Smokey and the Bandit would have some entertainment value, but Hollywood needs to make it somewhat realistic which might tough. Now a remake of "Duel" might be a little more realistic with all the awesome cell service in remote areas and the lack of pay phones on every corner. Would like to know the time and location of the casting call for either goes into production, think I'd make a great "Snowman" and I can drive as an extra.
Reply
3-27-2009 @ 5:08PM
bigdaddysgirl said...
if you are going to remake smokey and the bandit. it needs to be kept close to the original as possible. it was a great movie in its time and done properly it could be again.
Reply