News > Metropolis Remake on the Way

Written by David Morgan

Fritz Lang fans, prepare to be dismayed. Producer Thomas Schuehly (who produced Oliver Stone's Alexander but also Fassbinder's Veronika Voss) has acquired the rights to remake Lang's classic 1927 silent sci-fi expressionist spectacle Metropolis. Mario Kassar will be Schuehly's partner on the project and they are currently hunting for directors from their base of operations in Munich.

As always, a producer with a remake on his hands has to make some justifications. He recently told Variety:

With the overwhelming role technology plays in our daily lives, the growing gap between rich and poor, including the gradual elimination of the middle class, the story of Metropolis is a frightening reflection of our society that takes place in an all too possible not too distant future.

The original film depicted the plight of the underground laborers who work themselves to death to maintain the way of life for the wealthy who live far above ground. It's influence on science fiction and cinema in general has been tremendous to say the least. It sounds like Schuely has good intentions, but he's really headed for some groans from sci-fi fans if he doesn't know what he's doing.