Paramount Pictures has announced that they will be remaking Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 classic psychological thriller “Vertigo,” with Robert Downey Jr. in a possible leading role. Downey will also be producing the film through his company, Team Downey, along with John Davis and John Fox of Davis Entertainment. The screenplay will be written by “Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight, who recently committed to writing an untitled “Star Wars” movie for Lucasfilm.
The original “Vertigo” starred James Stewart as John “Scottie” Ferguson, a San Francisco police detective who is forced to retire due to his paralyzing fear of heights. He becomes obsessed with Madeleine, the wife of an acquaintance whom he is hired to tail, and his obsession ultimately leads to tragedy. The movie was not an immediate success but has since gained critical acclaim and is considered a masterpiece.
Despite Downey’s recent low profile as an actor, he has remained busy producing and starring in the documentary “Sr.” about his father. He is set to appear in Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” this July.
Remakes of Hitchcock’s movies are not new, with Brian De Palma, David Lynch, and Mel Brooks having drawn inspiration from “Vertigo” specifically. However, no American studio has attempted an outright remake of “Vertigo” until now.
The French novel that inspired the movie, “D’entre les morts,” or “The Living and the Dead,” by Boileau-Narcejac, has been overshadowed by the success of “Vertigo.” The book follows the same plot but is set in Paris during World War II and has a different ending.
The new remake of “Vertigo” is highly anticipated, and fans are eager to see how Downey will interpret the iconic role originally played by James Stewart.
