We have been following the development of a remake of the Dario Argento classic SUSPIRIA over the course of many years and through many ups and downs. At one point set to be directed by David Gordon Green, the remake now has Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino attached to direct, with Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton possibly signed on to star.
Quotes from Guadagnino have indicated that he is putting a lot of thought and respect into his approach to the story of
an American ballet student who transfers to a prestigious dance academy in Germany but later realizes that the academy is a front for something far more sinister and supernatural amidst a series of murders.
That approach includes digging into the concepts of motherhood and finding your inner voice while also putting a strong focus on what it was like in 1977 Berlin.
Many fans of SUSPIRIA believe that a remake shouldn't happen regardless of what ideas Guadagnino may have for it, and they're not alone in that belief – it's shared by Dario Argento himself. In a recent interview with IndieWire, Argento discussed the remake and why he feels it's a pointless endeavor:
What do you make of all the reports about this project?
I’ve been waiting for this project to come about for so many years. The copyrights were bought about seven years ago. First, they belonged to 20th Century Fox, then they were handed over to some other companies, and so on. But what’s really absurd — really unbelievable — is that I have never, ever been asked about it. I mean, I never got a call or anything, asking me about casting, locations, whatever. I know nothing about this project except what I read in the papers. I repeat: I have ever, ever been asked about it.
So if the studio called you about it, what would you say?
I might give some advice on the screenplay, the script, maybe the locations. When I did the film, I did a lot of research with the location scout. I heard that this remake, if it’s ever made, will be shot again in Europe. So I might be able to provide useful advice about that. But, honestly, I do think it would be better if it wasn’t remade.
Why are you opposed to it?
Well, the film has a specific mood. Either you do it exactly the same way — in which case, it’s not a remake, it’s a copy, which is pointless — or, you change things and make another movie. In that case, why call it “Suspiria”?
While I'm not outright opposed to it, the thought of SUSPIRIA being remade has always been strange to me, and the fact that Argento has never been consulted about it is even stranger. It's been a while since we heard anything about Guadagnino's version, but we'll keep you updated if/when we hear anything about its progress. Or lack thereof.
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