It's been 17 years since the last serious attempt to reboot blaxploitation classic, Shaft, in a film that starred Samuel L. Jackson. It did okay but didn't come close to the cultural impact of Richard Roundtree's three unforgettable performances as the bad mutha in the 1970s. When Ride Along and Barbershop director Tim Story was revealed to be directing yet another remake attempt, the presumption was that it would be less action, more comedy. And apparently that was a good guess, but there is one other significant change.
Speaking with Slashfilm at the TCA while promoting Showtime's White Famous series, Story confirmed the film's comedic approach...
"My Shaft movie is going to be definitely not straight action. We’re going action-comedy or comedy-action, I’m not exactly sure which one comes first. We’re going to definitely make sure the stakes in the world are real, and then you’ve got these characters who are dealing with kind of a father/son situation, we’re going to see them put a family back together.”
But it won't be a straight shot of testosterone like the old Shaft movies were. This version will find a major role for a strong female lead, as well...
“We’re still paying an homage to the original, so [Shaft] still means what it means. At the end of the day though, it does mean just a strong figure. We also have Shaft’s son’s mom in it as well. She’s a strong figure as well. It’s not even specific to the male. It’s specific to just strong people.”
There was some hope that maybe this version of Shaft would be female, but I think this is the best way to make everyone happy. Now we just need to know where Roundtree fits in. Maybe he'll reprise his role as "Uncle John" aka the original Shaft? Hell, why not?
And am I wrong for wanting Girls Trip breakout Tiffany Haddish to play Mrs. Shaft?
