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Martin Campbell Off The Birds, Dennis Iliadis Replacing Him?

by Alex Billington
December 2, 2009
Source: Pajiba

Remember that remake of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds that Naomi Watts was going to star in? Well, as much as I'm sure everyone wishes that project were dead, according to Pajiba it's alive and well. However, they're saying that Martin Campbell, who was originally attached to direct, is now off of it because he took on another much bigger project known as Green Lantern. But since Universal still wants this to get made, they quickly found a replacement - Greek director Dennis Iliadis, who directed The Last House on the Left remake from last year. Pajiba is also guessing that without Campbell, Watts is no longer involved either.

They also say that the budget will be upwards of $60 million and instead of going the PG-13 route as was originally planned, Iliadis now wants to amp up the horror and make it R-rated. As anyone with common sense knows, Hitchcock's The Birds wasn't about blood and gore, so why go the gore route in a remake? Of course, because it's Hollywood, and that's what sells movies nowadays. Or does it? Either way, it sounds like Iliadis is going to push for an R-rating while continuing to develop this sequel. I'm sure we'll get an official announcement confirming this soon enough, for better or worse. Is there any hope for this remake?

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xerxex

can this work? The Birds being remade into a film in this day and age? I don't know, but Naomi Watts is in it, thats a plus...But will they explain why the Birds attack? or leave it ambiguous, or give us some bullshit "The Earth's rotation is off causing a chemical imbalance in their brains" story?
samuel j

this is sad news. another horror remake? come up with something new. this is ridiculous.
pullin' my taffy

BLASPHEMY!!!!! here is a case where I most sincerely hope they LOSE THEIR ASS on this...absolutely NO REASON TO DO THIS!!!
Hattori Hanzo

Maybe after Hollywood embarrasses itself with the remakes of The Birds, Poltergeist and The Exorcist the studios may finally give up and go back to making original movies instead. Sorry xerxex, but it's going to take a hell of a lot more than Naomi Watts to save The Birds remake.
Xerxex

yeah #4...I know...but I'll see it for her!
Quanah

I'd watch two hours of Naomi Watts reading a book, but I wouldn't watch a remake of The Birds. I know it doesn't make sense, but in my mind it does. I'm really with the group on this one. I get so sick of Hollywood's inability to come up with more original ideas. I honestly can't think of more than a few remakes in the last ten years that have had huge success (Of course, Batman being one--Can anyone think of any others?). I think to remake a Hitchcock film is an absolute no-no. I said it when Gus Van Sant remade Psycho (Even though Gus is an incredible director) and I'd say it again here too (Even though it appears they don't have a director). Oh bother.
Brad

Instead of making crappy remakes of movies, why don't they just re-release the old ones? I'd pay to go see some classic movies on the big screen. I went to see Star Wars Special Edition when it came out. I'm not saying they'd have to add scenes to it, but maybe have a 2-3 part Hitchcock movie even you could go see for the regular price of seeing a new movie. I'd pay good money to see "The Birds", "Psycho", and "North By Northwest" on the big screen.
http://theincrediblesuit.blogspot.com/ The Incredible Suit

It's because he's doing the next Bond film, and that's a fact. There's no real evidence for it, but it is a fact.
tobi,leader of the akatsuki

the original the birds was a classic,am i the only one who glad that martin campbell is of the birds & on a bigger project of the green lantern.