A remake of the Charles Bronson classic Death Wish has been in the works for so long, you'd think somebody had a vendetta against it happening. For much of that time it was Joe Carnahan (The Grey) attached to adapt Brian Garfield's killer revenge novel, but that version never happened and it was Big Bad Wolves directors Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado who took over. However their attachment was short-lived, and now an unexpected choice has come aboard to make his first big studio feature.
Horror maestro Eli Roth is set to direct Death Wish, in a deal that is already signed, sealed, and delivered. Roth is the guy behind gory horror flicks such as Cabin Fever, Hostel, and The Green Inferno. Most recently he moved to thrillers with Knock Knock, and was going to direct the shark flick Meg before dropping out. Death Wish will have him working with Bruce Willis who has long been linked to the Bronson role of an ordinary man who turns vigilante after his wife is murdered by criminals.
The script comes from Scott Alexander and Larry Karazewski, which wouldn't be a big deal if they weren't the guys responsible for hit series The People vs. OJ Simpson. It'll be interesting to see if they can bring something new to a story that has been told and retold repeatedly. The same questions swirl around Roth, who has never had to work on a studio film before and may have to adjust for a project this size. [THR]
