It’s been about six years since David Cronenberg released his most recent feature film, “Map to the Stars.” And in the interim, while he hasn’t had a project hit the big (or small) screen, that doesn’t mean the filmmaker hasn’t been busy. As detailed in a new interview with The Guardian, Cronenberg is still working hard to get projects made. But then again, he won’t be distraught if he ends up retiring, either.
The filmmaker discussed the status of his most recent projects, including a proposed series adaptation of his novel “Consumed.” And though it seemed like at least something was going to be made the last time we checked in October, it appears that pretty much all of it has stalled. Cronenberg said that Netflix passed on a miniseries that he was writing after he presented two scripts (he’s going to shop those around to other studios). He also is still holding about that “Consumed” adaptation. And finally, he’s working on a “very personal” film script but there’s no word on if that will ever get produced.
Long story short, Cronenberg has plenty of irons in the fire, but he’s not sure which will get made first.
“Whichever one happens first, I’ll do,” he explained. “No matter whether you’re in Canada or not, with independent film, it’s difficult to get anything made. The more unusual a film is, the more resistance you’ll face.”
The filmmaker added, “It’s been a long, difficult process even in the era of streaming or whatever. You’re accumulating possible investors, people lose interest, more investors. You talk to maybe Canal+ or a broadcaster, and you wait, and you hope.”
Another issue that Cronenberg is noticing with Hollywood, particularly in the “asexual” superhero films is the lack of eroticism. The filmmaker believes that sex is a vital part of any film.
“To me, movies are sex,” Cronenberg said. “Movies were made for sex, there’s no question about it.”
And despite his persistence with trying to get a project made, the filmmaker says that he’d be perfectly satisfied if he didn’t make another feature film for the rest of his life.
“As I said in Venice when we were showing the restoration of ‘Crash,’ if I never make another movie, that’s perfectly OK,” he explained. “People were upset by that, but it’s true. If one of these projects gets greenlit, I’ll become obsessed again, throw myself into it completely as I always have. But I don’t feel the desperation to create that I used to when I was a young man trying to make a name for myself. I wanted to get all my ideas on screen, and now, I have. I don’t know if this is a Buddhist or Zen way of thinking. All I know is that it’s a nice place to be.”
The next place you can see Cronenberg is as an actor in the upcoming film “Disappearance At Clifton Hill,” which is available tomorrow.
