
American Gigolo Still 1980 - H 2014
Courtesy of Photofest- Share this article on Facebook
- Share this article on Twitter
- Share this article on Email
- Show additional share options
- Share this article on Print
- Share this article on Comment
- Share this article on Whatsapp
- Share this article on Linkedin
- Share this article on Reddit
- Share this article on Pinit
- Share this article on Tumblr
Paul Schrader will be credited as an executive consultant on Showtime’s small-screen remake of his 1980 movie American Gigolo. But the legendary screenwriter tells THR that his involvement in the project ends there.
“I’m a quote-unquote consultant, which meant that I got paid some money not to be involved,” says Schrader, who wrote and directed the male escort classic starring Richard Gere and Lauren Hutton.
Instead, Schrader is focused on his own projects, like the Nicolas Cage starrer Dog Eat Dog, which opens Nov. 11. That film, about a crew of ex-cons who are hired by a Cleveland mafioso to kidnap the baby of a rival mobster, offers some redemption for Schrader and Cage, who wound up disowning their previous collaboration, 2014’s Dying of the Light.
“Nicky and I had a terrible experience on a film before this, which was taken away from us by the producers and butchered. We wanted to work together again and make it right,” adds Schrader. “I said, ‘We don’t have enough money, but I have final cut and we can make any film we want. So let’s get imaginative.'”
As for the American Gigolo series, the outspoken filmmaker says, “I don’t even know if I’ll watch it. We’ll see.” But he wouldn’t be so laissez-faire about a new Taxi Driver. “Marty [Scorsese] and I have been able to block several attempts to update or redo Taxi Driver,” he says. “I’m very glad that there is no sequel or remake of that film in the works.”
A version of this story first appeared in the Nov. 25 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
THR Newsletters
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day