Spielberg May Remake "Mary Poppins" Film

[Rence]

From Playbill.com

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/97072.html

By Andrew Gans
29 Dec 2005


Academy Award-winning director Steven Spielberg is currently in talks with stage director Sir Richard Eyre for a film remake of "Mary Poppins."

London's The Independent reports that Eyre, who directed the acclaimed London stage version of Mary Poppins, has chatted with Spielberg, who is currently represented on screens with the controversial film "Munich." Eyre told the London paper, "We've talked about it a lot. It will be hard to outdo the original, but kids love the story and I'm sure that the remake will be a real success."

The stage version of Mary Poppins, which will open at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre in October, features Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman's original songs from the film as well as new songs and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. Julian Fellowes wrote the show's book.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

What could he possibly add to the movie to make it worthwhile? I really hate remakes and avoid them whenever possible. Is Hollywood really that devoid of fresh ideas?

 

[Lowillian]

Why or why must they re-make a classic?

 

[raidermatt]

Hollywood likes remakes because they see them as having a built in audience, and therefore being less risky.

While on a certain level I have to admit they are probably right, that's only one factor in determining a film's success. When its viewed as a shortcut, its likely being relied on too heavily.

Hopefully, Mr. Spielberg is considering this project because he really does WANT to tell the story in his way, and not just cash-in on a "brand". I guess I feel better about those chances with him than with most other Hollywood types.

 

[Rence]

The stage version of Mary Poppins does vary a bit from the film version, it is not a stage adaptation of the movie.

From what I understand P L Travers (author of the Mary Poppins books) was not all that happy with the movie. Her books had a bit of a darker tone to them. She later sold the stage rights to those who she thought would maintain her vision.

When the stage production came about they sort of merged the books with the movie and came up with a plot that varies somewhat. Many scenes from the movie are not in the stage version and there are scenes and characters in the stage version that were not in the movie. Only some of the songs from the movie were retained and several new ones were added. I haven't heard the score but I have read that the new songs are quite good.

I could see the interest in doing a new film version of Mary Poppins based on the changes made to the stage version. It wouldn't really be a remake of the original film but it would be a telling of the newer stage version of the story. I think Spielberg would do a good job, but I don't know that it would be a hit. The original film is so beloved that I think folks would stay away.

With todays film technology etc. they could do a much better job of the effects etc. but the original is such a classic. The same could be said for the Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind etc. The technology etc. is there to remake the movies (could you imagine what the burning of Atlanta would be like with modern film techniques?), but the originals are just too good that folks won't allow them to be replaced.

I think that this is some of the problem that King Kong is having. The original is such a classic that folks are not flocking to see the remake like everyone thought they would The movie is doing well, but a month ago they were talking about it overtaking Titanic, and now they are wondering if it will recoup its costs.

I think in the end Spielberg will pass on the project. There is just not money to be made. He could make a tremendous movie, but I don't think the audience is there.

 

[Luv2Roam]

The downside to King Kong is -- Yawn, another KK re-make movie. I think it is mandatory every set number of years that Hollywood re-make another KK movie. And the real interest was only in the first.

I would like to see a MP movie that closely followed the book, if the book and Disney version are really different.
The problem I usually have with Hollywood is them throwing their own bad ideas in the mix and bad casting. Or someone will come up with THE WONDERFUL idea of making Mary into a Marty!

 

[bicker]

Remakes work best when they're fundamentally different from the original. Most of the casese where the remake was better than the original were stories with fantastical elements, and so Mary Poppins could be a good candidate.

For example, the recent live action film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings trilogy was utterly incredible, and a great improvement over the original (animated) film adaptations. The feature film adaptations of the Batman universe were far superior (and more faithful) to the television adaptations. Some folks feel the same way about Tim Burton's Willie Wonka adaptation, and the remakes of Day of the Dead, Amityville Horror. Remember that The Wizard of Oz (1939) was itself a remake of what was then considered a classic.

 

[coby421]

Spielberg Quashes 'Mary Poppins' Rumors
Steven Spielberg has played down rumours he is planning to remake Mary Poppins. The Saving Private Ryan director was linked to the project by Sir Richard Eyre, the director of the London stage show of Mary Poppins. He said, "Spielberg wants to make a new film of Mary Poppins and we've talked about it a lot. "It will be hard to outdo the original but kids love the story and I'm sure that the remake will be a real success." But Spielberg's representative Marvin Levy counters, "I never heard of this and couldn't imagine Steven ever doing a remake of a classic - and a (Walt Disney) classic at that. "There's a Broadway show from Disney but nothing involving us in any way." www.imdb.com

I heard this rumor too glad its not real though!!

 

[DisFlan]

Spielberg Quashes 'Mary Poppins' Rumors

Well, that's a relief. Don't fix it if it ain't broken!


DisFlan

 

[pedro2112]

I'm glad .... not that I think Spielberg is a bad director (he is fantastic), it's just his last stab at a family movie (hook), wasn't that good, IMO.

 

[Micca]

This is one movie that does not need to be remade. It's "practically perfect in every way". Not joking.

 

[Sillyprincess]

That will be intresting, today with all of the computer techno. he will make superkalafragalisticispealadoshis into a whole new film with more technolgy then ever with all the songs.


But Spielberg despite with the good movies he made he may make it into a scary movie from "Jaws" think of what he could do with Marry Poppins? But yet he has made some good movies I would see the new one.


The movie will be very intresting espessicaly with him as a director of the movie think of the possabilites he could do with the 2006 techo.

~silly