Universal has been very keen on getting their remake of “Scarface” in front of cameras, and have even set a release date for next year, and while they have a star in Diego Luna, they haven’t had a director. Antoine Fuqua had been attached for a while, but exited to focus on “The Equalizer 2,” and while David Mackenzie (“Hell or High Water“) and Peter Berg (“Deepwater Horizon,” “Patriots Day“) were said to be possible replacements, another name has landed the gig.
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Deadline reports that “End Of Watch” and “Suicide Squad” director David Ayer is in early negotiations to helm “Scarface.” The choice certainly suggests the movie might pivot toward the brawny, bro-y 1983 movie in tone, but then you also have to remember that the Coen Brothers have given the script, initially penned by Terence Winter (“Boardwalk Empire,” “The Wolf Of Wall Street“), a rewrite. That’s right, David Ayer is going to direct a Coen Brothers script. That should certainly be interesting.
The new version of the classic gangster story is set in contemporary Los Angeles, and follows a Mexican immigrant who searches for power and money. With this film moving quickly toward a production and an August 10, 2018 release date, this likely means that Ayer’s DC Films spinoff “Gotham City Sirens” isn’t going to roll in front of cameras anytime soon.