A remake of Fellini's masterpiece, 'La Dolce Vita,' is on the way

[Scottie]

Federico Fellini's 1960 classic film La Dolce Vita will be remade. According to Deadline, the Fellini estate and AMBI Group principals Andrea Iervolino and Monika Bacardi have closed an option agreement that allows AMBI Group and producer Daniele Di Lorenzo's LDM Productions to begin working on the upcoming "homage".

Francesca Fellini, niece of Federico Fellini, commented: "We've been approached countless times and asked to consider everything from remakes and re-imaginings to prequels and sequels. We knew it would take very special producers and compelling circumstances to motivate the family to allow rights to be optioned. Daniele, Andrea and Monika have a beautiful vision of a modern film, and considering their Italian heritage and deep appreciation and understanding of my uncle's works, there couldn't be a better alignment for this project."

"Our vision is of a contemporary story every bit as commercial, iconic and award-worthy as the original. These are big aspirations of course, but we have to be bold if we want to match the imprint of the original film and have the utmost confidence this vision will play out beautifully. We're thankful to the Fellini family and eager to begin collaborating with Daniele, who shares our passion and has been so amazing in bringing this to us," said Iervolino.

Note: Fellini's was restored in 4K by Cineteca di Bologna - Laboratorio L'Immagine Ritrovata in 2010, in association with The Film Foundation, Pathe, Fondation Jerome Seydoux-Pathe, Mediaset-Medusa, Paramount Pictures, Cinecitta Luce, and Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia - Cineteca Nazionale. Restoration funding was provided by Gucci and The Film Foundation. In the United States, the recent restoration of La Dolce Vita is out on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. You can see our listing and review of this release here. In the United Kingdom, the restoration is available on Blu-ray courtesy of local distributors Nouveaux Pictures.

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=17144

[Scottie]

[Doctor Jack]

Couldn't get through the original so this doesn't bother me at all.

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by LuckyDragon

This should make for at least two or three pages of phony anti-remake outrage and jokes about who Jai Courtney is gonna play.

Why phony???? This remake is a dumb idea...dumber then dumb and it will be an absolute flop.

[AaronJ]

There is simply no way that this can work without Marcello. I mean, why even bother?

[ZoetMB]

Bad idea in every respect. I'm surprised the estate is permitting this aside from the fact that it's probably a money grab.

That's a film that can't be effectively remade, IMO. Also, it's a film that was a product of the time and location it which it was made. Tastes have changed and I don't believe there's an audience for that kind of film today - people simply don't have the patience.

Didn't people learn their lesson from the Psycho remake?

[harpolini]

I used to be against remakes, especially for my holy grail of films. Now, I'm all for them because the worse that could happen is that it will be terrible. It will never take away from the previous film.

I only have a select few friends that watch art-house and foreign classics. If a remake comes out, maybe by chance some of my other friends will be inclined to check out the original.

However, what if it's actually good? What if, say a visual director like Luca Guadagnino takes the helm. Then it could be marvelous. I would rather see a director remake a complex film than remake a bad one.

[LuckyDragon]

Originally Posted by harpolini

I used to be against remakes, especially for my holy grail of films. Now, I'm all for them because the worse that could happen is that it will be terrible. It will never take away from the previous film.

I only have a select few friends that watch art-house and foreign classics. If a remake comes out, maybe by chance some of my other friends will be inclined to check out the original.

However, what if it's actually good? What if, say a visual director like Luca Guadagnino takes the helm. Then it could be marvelous. I would rather see a director remake a complex film than remake a bad one.

Yep, worst case scenario, it's free advertising for the original and the Blu-ray is in the Amazon top ten for a month.

[Foggy]

Sorry, but it doesn't work like that. Maybe a few people will discover the original through this remake, but ultimately those who don't have a interest world cinema from the 60's (which is not that many) won't check out the original just because there's a new version out.

I'm just thrown off by the fact the article says the new version will be just as commercial as the original? Commercial and Fellini simply don't match up.

[Buscemi]

This will be like the I Vitelloni remake plans that were swirling around a few years back: they'll cast a few C-list actors, get some rights sold,...and never make it.

Talks will be nothing but.

[JimDiGriz]

Originally Posted by Foggy

Sorry, but it doesn't work like that. Maybe a few people will discover the original through this remake, but ultimately those who don't have a interest world cinema from the 60's (which is not that many) won't check out the original just because there's a new version out.

I'm just thrown off by the fact the article says the new version will be just as commercial as the original? Commercial and Fellini simply don't match up.

It would be interesting to see an extended remake of Toby Dammit but only if certain directors did it... (definitely not Hollywood!)

[Hellraiserfan]

If this goes through I wonder what blond and incredibly busty actress they'll get for the role of Sylvia. Well, she doesn't have to be blond necessarily but the busty part is a must.

[atlantajoseph]

The Great Beauty was essentially an update of La Dolce Vita and was a big ole mess in my opinion. As someone else stated, Vita was very rooted in a particular time and place.

[Ray Jackson]

[Scottie]

Originally Posted by atlantajoseph

The Great Beauty was essentially an update of La Dolce Vita and was a big ole mess in my opinion. As someone else stated, Vita was very rooted in a particular time and place.

I actually think The Great Beauty is a very well made film, particularly in its homage to Fellini. Furthermore, it's not only the best film of 2013 for me, but probably one of the best films of the century thus far.

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by Ray Jackson

We just need LaBeouf in more crazy films.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I actually think The Great Beauty is a very well made film, particularly in its homage to Fellini. Furthermore, it's not only the best film of 2013 for me, but probably one of the best films of the century thus far.

I still need to see this. I don't know why I keep putting it off.

[Ray Jackson]

Originally Posted by Foggy

We just need LaBeouf in more crazy films.

Shia Lebeouf or Ben Affleck?

...tough call.

[atlantajoseph]

Originally Posted by iScottie

I actually think The Great Beauty is a very well made film, particularly in its homage to Fellini. Furthermore, it's not only the best film of 2013 for me, but probably one of the best films of the century thus far.

Your opinion is certainly in the mainstream and supported by many a critic. My personal opinion as a Fellini fan is that this film was more vulgar rip-off than homage. YMMV of course.

[Member-275053]

I won't even entertain the notion of a remake of this classic Italian film.