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Sly Stallone Wants to Remake Death Wish?

by Alex Billington
January 11, 2008
Source: IGN

Sylvester Stallone has successfully opened and closed the book (for good) on two major franchises recently, but that doesn't mean his reign of terror is over. Alas, I have not seen the latest Rambo yet and will still hold my convictions, and I actually liked the last Rocky movie quite a bit, so honestly, it's hardly terror. Stallone recently talked with IGN and told them that he's interested in remaking the 1974 vigilante film Death Wish, and possibly even writing, directing, and starring (yet again). However, his modernized take "would be volcanic" and "would focus on defense attorneys" and "on [the people] allowing this crap to happen -- not so much the guy on the street."

Whereas the character of Paul Kersey, played by Charles Bronson in the 1974 original, was a completely pacifist man who turns violent after his wife is murdered, Stallone's version would feature a much different kind of character.

"He was a very violent human being, completely violent, an ex-convict who walked the walk, was accepted back into society and did everything he could to be a [good person] like these thieves and junkies who now work on the side of the law. They've gone that way, but when something happens he reverts back to that guy."

And as for what sets him off and how his character deals with it, Stallone explains the differences and how his character, who is coming from prison, is perceived by the street gangs. All in all it sounds like an interesting update on the original film and could be a promising film.

"What if it happened to you, that your daughter was grabbed and her eyes were put out? Would you want to sit there and defend that guy?"

"Now you've unleashed a man who really understands the world of violence," he said. "He isn't burdened with this passive-aggressive, conscientious-objector kind of thing. That's been done. It's like what happens when the wolf has gone from wolf to wolf in sheep's clothing back to the wolf. Now the fellow on the street has a problem because he knows how to deal with that kind of mentality because he was a prisoner."

Internal studio rumblings that this remake was in the works at MGM first appeared last November, and as long as Stallone's career continues to go well, it seems like this could be possible. You know what, I'll be honest, there is one thing Sly Stallone is great at - and it's kicking other people's ass. And you know what, if he's kicking their ass in the boxing ring, in the jungles, in a courtroom, or on the streets, it's all the same - it's all Stallone just kickin' some ass! And I'll end up watching it, and I'll probably end up enjoying it!

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