Tuesday, October 8, 2024

“The Magnificent Seven” Director Says If it’s a Hit (It Will Be) He’d Be Up for Magnificent 8 and 9

Share

Sony, still grilling sausages, is going to have a big hit this weekend. “The Magnificent Seven” rode into town last night for sneaks with $1.75 million. Boxofficemojo points out that’s a little better even than “Sully,” which has now turned into a solid hit and possible Oscar nominee.

“M7” is a remake, of course, but the good kind, not “Ben Hur.” Antoine Fuqua reunites with Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke, adds Chris Pratt, Peter Sarsgard and Vincent D’Onofrio. All them are dead on in this serious rebooting of the straight ahead western. This isn’t Quentin Tarantino or even Mel Brooks. It’s the real thing. And while there isn’t much dialogue, there’s plenty of action. Great bar fights, bows and arrows, and horse action with no horsing around. You’ll also enjoy Chris Pratt’s magic tricks.

I can’t give away the story, but the new “M7” follows the plot of the original pretty closely. Not everyone gets out alive, so watch closely. Enough of the cast makes it that I asked Fuqua in Toronto if he’d be open to sequels– a “Magnificent 8” or “Magnificent 9.” He said, “If this is a hit, I’d be open to it, sure. Take Denzel and whoever’s left, and regroup.”

I think it will happen.

Pay special attention to Ethan Hawke’s character. Goodnight Robicheaux (played in the 1960 original by Brad Dexter). He’s doing something a little different than the others. His character has one of the best story arcs. And we joked in Toronto, this movie didn’t take 12 years to make!

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

Read more

In Other News