Birds Remake Up In The Air

Published on December 3, 2009 by Martyn Conterio · View Comments

martijn-hendriks_thebirds-without-the-birds_2008 Hollywood proves yet again the words: sacred and classic translate as: old and remake needed. The man who revitalised the Bond franchise twice (sounds like one of its title) – Martin Campbell – has jumped ship on this re-do of Alfred Hitchcock’s avian horror, The Birds.

Word on the grapevine (according to Pajiba) is that Last House on the Left’s Dennis lliades is circling the project (I will try and get as many bird-related puns in here as possible). Does this Greek filmmaker have a penchant for remakes? Or is it the only work he can get at present. There was a rumour that Naomi Watts was looking at this, but that hardly seems likely now. It gets even worse: Michael Bay is on producing duties.

Hitchcock’s 1963 chiller nested in the pop cultural conscience despite it not being the auteur’s best. Indeed, the first half of the film, as the tension ratches up produces the best effects. Leading lady Tippi Hedren was treated rather poorly by Hitchcock during the production, so somebody should perhaps given Danish nutter Lars von Trier a ring and see if he’ll take the directing reigns.

The new project has seen screenplays by writers Scott Derickson (The Day The Earth Stood Still) and Billy Ray (Shattered Glass). With lliades at the helm expect CGI birds, zero atmosphere and lots of blood. This will definitely not soar.