Tarzan is easily one of the most known characters of all time, even in India. Very few people haven’t seen a movie adaptation or school bags or stickers or what-not relating to the small boy who because of circumstances grew up in the jungle with apes. Now, as it is the trend these days, another reimagined version is in development regarding the man-ape. But considering the track record of remakes and reimagined visions of movies as of late, is this a sound decision or a futile attempt?
The last attempt to reignite the audience’s interest in the character was by Warner Bros in 2016’s ‘The Legend of Tarzan‘. The film had a strong star cast led by Alexander Skarsgård, Margot Robbie, and Samuel L. Jackson with a mammoth budget of $180 million yet the generic plot and the sluggish pace let them down, stopping any plans they had for the character’s future if any.
Remakes of old classics are not being lapped up by the audience anymore. Most are flopping left right and center, the latest being Disney’s ‘Pinocchio‘ remake starring Tom Hanks. While Hank’s performances drew praise, the film was critically panned. In a Tarzan movie’s case, since everyone already knows the story, an engaging screenplay and direction will be a huge deciding factor for success irrespective of all others. If the production studio gets that right, it will have a potential film franchise-worthy hit film on its hands. Otherwise, it will be another addition to the list of classics that should never have been touched. And that is exactly what Sony seems to be aiming at.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sony Pictures has recently picked up the screen rights to Tarzan from Tarzan’s creator Edgar Rice Burroughs’ estate, Edgar Rice Burroughs Inc. The movie is reported to be reimagined for the 21st century. The studio currently has no director, producer, or writer attached to work on the project yet. The only hope one can dare to have is that the upcoming film continues the legacy of the beloved character and not become another lackluster remake that disappoints people so much that they go back to watch the original.