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WB's Nightmare Remake Was Almost 3D, But Director Resisted

by Alex Billington
April 25, 2010
Source: LA Times

Freddy Krueger - A Nightmare on Elm Street

I feel like I've been writing nothing but news about 3D over the last few days. Even though a backlash seems to be growing, Hollywood is still exploding with 3D fever, converting more and more movies into 3D as fast as they can. On the flip-side, one movie that we won't (thankfully) see in 3D this year is Platinum Dunes' A Nightmare on Elm Street remake, due out next weekend. The reason? Director Samuel Bayer, who is making his feature directorial debut on this after working in commercials, resisted when the studio tried to convert it. "We pushed back," Bayer told the LA Times (discovered via SlashFilm) in a new article about 3D.

"Some high-profile filmmakers have been famously concerned about conversion, which takes footage that was shot in 2-D and turns it into 3-D. When New Line initiated several conversations about converting A Nightmare on Elm Street to 3-D, "we pushed back," says director Samuel Bayer. "This was shot in 2-D and was meant to be shown in 2-D." He added, "Just like I don't want to see a lot of great movies remade" — alluding to the other Hollywood vogue — "I don't want to see a lot of them in 3-D."

Couldn't agree more! A bit later on, the article mentions an interesting tidbit about the now dead Friday the 13th sequel that Platinum Dunes was originally planning to shoot in 3D for release this fall. "In a script for a potential Friday the 13th sequel, for instance, a kill scene was written involving a body on a zipline because the idea of a body sliding full-speed toward the audience was deemed particularly effective in 3D." Thank goodness that project is dead, because that sounds like it would've been just plain awful to see. I don't know if everyone agrees, but I am very glad that Bayer resisted. We really do need more filmmakers who will stand up to studios and proclaim that if it "was shot in 2-D," it's "meant to be shown in 2-D." You tell 'em, Bayer!

Explore tags: 3D, Movie News, Opinions

Zantorian

Whatever. The entire 3D/anti-3D is worthless. The argument has nothing to do with actual movie content. It's a meta-movie argument, and its old.
Samantha

He is my new hero!
movie mike

SMART MAN! good movie?
Cineprog

I'm glad that Samueal Bayer resisterd the studo New line for him to convert the Remake of A Nightmare On Elm Street in to a 3 D conversion good on him.
Ben

I find it funny that he doesn't want to see a lot of great movies remade and here he is having just remade a great movie. Still, good to see him to stick to his guns.
DinoChow

Hell, I'll see the movie now just based on this...good for him.
judasbarronx

I agree. If it's 'converted' to 3-D, it won't look as good as being shot/filmed in 3-D. It's waste if it isn't done right. I agree with hime. I'm old school @ 31. 2-D is fine for me.
Daniel Felts

Yay. Pumped for the movie!
People's Champ

I'm sure if they really wanted to, they would've done it. I dont think this guy has that much pull.
Nick

2-D is way better than 3-D. I just can't wait until this whole 3-D phase passes. I have only watched one movie in 3-D (Clash of the Titans) and I thought it would have been better in to watch it in 2-D.
Al

Beautiful. Simply Beautiful. Good choice too, I would have skipped Elm Street if it were 3D.
Fisherr

Great to have Freddy back without 3-D, Thank God. And i am more glad that Friday the 13th franchise just died, hopefully.
ryderup

Great. Too bad he wasnt fighting off Platinum Dunes on making the NOES remake...
Quanah

The intention should be to immerse people in an environment. If 3D does that, than good. However, I haven't seen a lot of movies thus far that accomplished that task. At the same time, this film could be 9D or 1D and it wouldn't matter...It's gonna suck. 3D might have actually helped.
Xerxex

This guy actaully has some balls, and he said no to 3-D? Hell yeah!
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2408/blackbabyjesus.gif Crapola

Wait, he said yes to a remake, but no to 3d?
DJSil3nt

Truthfully, they need to stop worrying about 3D and worry more about the poor quality of these movies. Do u guys go to the movies just for eye candy? What happened to good storylines?
Deathtoll 2010

I agree that 2-d should be shown in 2-d, it would have been nice if maybe the dream sequences were shot in 3-d though. I never really thought the 3-d conversion transferred very well. I look for that to stop anyway considering Samsung is coming out with a home theater set up this summer that will convert any dvd into 3-d.
Naz19

What I don't understand is that this is the guys first time directorial debut and has been able to resist a huge studio like warner brothers studio when an experienced director such as louis letterrier who has a bit of clout in th film industry wasn't able to stop warner brothers from converting clash of the titans. Weird
Akirakorn

@19 2 Reasons: 1- Budget, I'm sure Titans cost 3x as much as New Nightmare; 2- Revenue, Titans is a tent-pole effects movie - Huge Audience, New Nightmare is a horror movie - Niche Audience. Yes Nightmare is a cult classic/if not icon, but so was the original Titans. And the only big budget movie Letterrier has done is Incredible Hulk which was (a bit of) a dissapointment (financially).
Hellboy

@9 umm, yes he does. He's only one of the most influential rock video directors ever. Yes, this is his first feature, but you have no idea how much respect and influence this guy has had on Hollywood. Learn your facts before you open your mouth.
Limp Discket

Early reports, rumors, and focus groups are indicating that this is actually pretty good.
http://twitter.com/gimmesumsuga Mathieu

#19/#20 - The main reason he was able to say no to 3D was because Platinum Dunes is Michael Bay's company. Bay hates 3D and he's one of the most successful directors in the business, so if he doesn't want to do something, he doesn't have to. Leterrier has only made a few films and was a hired hand on all of them, without a mega-producer on his side either. He lost creative control on Incredible Hulk too. The original A Nightmare On Elm Street should not be compared to the original Clash Of The Titans in terms of stature. Elm Street is/was a truly iconic horror film, a modern classic. Clash is fondly remembered, but it was pretty kitschy and dated even back when it was first released! Also, glad I'm not the only one amused by this moron saying he doesn't want to see lots of great films being remade, when he has just remade a great film.
Dandooo

I agree, I'm gettin excited for new freddy, the trailers lol great but we've all been fooled by slick trailers befor. I'm glad it's 2D clas was a steaming pile of horse shit.
josh

i like how he said he's against the whole hollywood remaking movies thing ..when the movie he is talking about is a freaking remake
Allo

This Farrrrrrrrrking sux , why the hell did they cancelle F13 SEQUEL theres NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! logical reason i guess in about 7 years all so well see another REmake of Friday the 13th in 3D , But after hearing that Clash of the Titans only looked passable and not great like Avatar in 3D im glade he kept it 2D i mean i think everyone forgets that they pushed Robert Englung aside aka The only Freddy and pretty sure Wes Craven ??? so count me out! of seenin this one because of that. Though the film should have a big hit wk.e then it'll drop honestly look at whats been released the next w.e and after that they dident time it right through at least if a sequel ever gets made 3D will be on tha cards the Right Way .
HerculesRockafeller

@19 Akirakorn is correct. But also, he may have fought against it, but in reality, he had ZERO influence on whether the movie was converted or not. The studio simply chose not to spend the money to convert it.
3d guy

thats gay, i so wanted to see this in 3d..