Pedro Pascal’s pick for the greatest movie remake: “I remember just blowing my mind”
Pedro Pascal might just be one of the most in-demand movie stars working today, with the actor having an unparalleled resurgence in popularity after his role in HBO’s The Last of Us, leading to an explosion of fame and new collaborations with directors like Ari Aster and Celine Song. After having early success in shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Game of Thrones, the actor had a rocky path in the industry, with years that were sprinkled with few roles and little opportunities to sink his teeth into. However, after his portrayal of Joel on the zombie apocalypse drama, he has soared to the top and become one of the most sought-after leading men of his generation.
It was recently announced that he would star in an upcoming remake of The Fantastic Four, a classic superhero movie that was last adapted in 2015, working alongside Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach. But while remakes can seem like an impossible genre with many expectations and the pressure to exceed the previous version, Pascal shared his thoughts on what he thinks is the greatest remake of all time.
Many directors have tried their hand at adapting classic films, with Luca Guadagnino recently being announced as remaking American Psycho, as well as having put his own spin on Suspiria. The same goes for old fairytale stories like Cinderella and Snow White, as well as dramas like The Italian Job and True Grit, with many returning to films that they loved in the past and trying to put a personal spin on it.
However, in a world that is perhaps now oversaturated with remakes and adaptations, with fewer studios taking a risk on original stories and regurgitating old IP, it feels increasingly rare to see genuinely good remakes, with most feeling like a blatant cash grab. But Pascal had high praise for one director who managed to do this successfully, describing the impact of Cape Fear.
Martin Scorsese is one of the most legendary directors of all time, and it is for this reason that he is one of the few filmmakers given a free pass to remake any film or play he wants. Cape Fear was originally released in 1962 and directed by J. Lee Thompson, following a man called Sam Bowden after witnessing a rape committed by Max Cady. After Cady is released from prison eight years later, he begins stalking Bowden and his family. Given the darkness of the story, it feels like the perfect film for Scorsese to remake, with the director casting Robert De Niro in the lead role, which was previously played by Gregory Peck.
When discussing the film, Pascal said, “I think that Cape Fear is the best remake of anything that I’ve ever seen. I remember seeing that in the theatre when I was a kid and seeing Juliette Lewis and just being like, I guess what some people felt when they saw Brando maybe in Streetcar. The strangeness of her performance and honesty of it, I remember it just blowing my mind”.
Juliette Lewis plays the daughter of Sam Bowden, who was just 18 when she reclaimed her role in the film. Her screen presence is able to match that of De Niro’s, which is an incredible feat at such a young age, which is perhaps why Pascal was so mesmerised by her and compared to another Hollywood heavyweight.
