“The Magnificent Seven” director Antoine Fuqua is in talks to direct Universal’s new take on “Scarface,” a spokesman for the studio confirmed to TheWrap.
The third and latest iteration of “Scarface” will be set in Los Angeles. The original 1932 film starring Paul Muni took place in Chicago, while the 1983 classic featuring Al Pacino as Tony Montana chronicled the Miami cocaine trade.
The 1983 movie, directed by Brian de Palma, was only the 16th highest-grossing film of the year, but it has become a cult classic, standard dorm room viewing and a brand with plenty of resonance to people born a full generation after its initial release.
The newest “Scarface,” a Bluegrass Films and Global Produce production, will follow the same immigrant rags-to-riches story as the first two, but the setting moves west.
Jonathan Herman wrote the most recent draft of the screenplay, with earlier versions written by Paul Attanasio and David Ayer. “Scarface” will be produced by Marc Shmuger, Scott Stuber and Dylan Clark. Marty Bregman, producer of the 1983 “Scarface” film, will also produce.
Executive Vice President of Production Jon Mone and Vice President of Production Jay Polidoro will oversee the project for the studio. CAA and Ziffren Brittenham represent Fuqua.
Fuqua is currently awaiting the release of Sony’s “Magnificent Seven,” a western action film starring Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt that hits theaters Sept. 23.