Last October, Viggo Mortensen teased the possibility of working with filmmaker David Cronenberg on a new film sometime in 2021. At the time, considering how long it’s been since Cronenberg’s most recent feature film work (2014’s “Maps to the Stars”), fans were a bit apprehensive about believing it might actually happen. Then earlier this year, Mortensen again teased the project and called it a “strange noir,” making skeptical fans get a bit more excited about the possibility. Well, according to a new report, it’s time to turn the skeptics into believers as it appears Cronenberg’s latest film is actually going to begin filming this summer.
According to a report from KFTV (via The Film Stage), a producer on the upcoming Cronenberg film said that filming is expected to begin, in Greece, on the new feature in early August and last for 30 days, ending in September. He even dropped the title, “Crimes of the Future,” which might pique the interest of Cronenberg fans a bit more.
“I am looking forward to returning to Greece to shoot another film with Argonauts,” said producer Robert Lantos. “It has been 14 years since we shot ‘Fugitive Pieces’ in Athens, Hydra, and Mitilini, an experience of which I have fond and positive souvenirs. Athens is the perfect setting for ‘Crimes Of The Future,’ as it is bespoke tailoring for David Cronenberg’s unique vision of a future which intermingles with the past.”
First, the best news for fans of Cronenberg is the fact that filming of a new film (whatever it might be) is actually set for August, which means we’re approximately a year or so from potentially seeing his new film. But the additional news that the title (at least the working title) is “Crimes of the Future” does add an extra wrinkle to the proceedings.
You see, “Crimes of the Future” is also the title of a 1970 film written and directed by Cronenberg, which details the story of a dermatologist who goes on the hunt for his mentor, a mad scientist-esque character that develops a new cosmetic invention that wipes out the entire race of sexually mature women. Though it’s a film that has been readily available for decades, the 63-minute feature is one of Cronenberg’s earliest films that didn’t have the luxury of a decent budget and technology. So, if the new film aims to adapt that story and remake it with a bigger budget, that wouldn’t be all that surprising.
And when you take into consideration the comments by Mortensen about the film being a “strange noir” that reminds him of Cronenberg’s “origins,” then it does make sense that maybe “Crimes of the Future” is a remake or reimagining of the earlier work. Of course, this is just one of the many unknowns when it comes to the film, as we are just speculating at this point. Though, if the producer is to be believed, no matter what, there’s a new Cronenberg project on the horizon starring Viggo Mortensen. And that’s cause for celebration.
You can actually watch “Crimes of the Future” below: