Believe it or not, it’s been 12 years since Frank Darabont released a film. The Oscar-nominated filmmaker’s last work “The Mist” is actually one of those films that have found a big cult following in the years since its release, but Darabont has yet to have a follow-up. And in a new interview with IndieWire, he explains that maybe that has something to do with how Hollywood is run today.
Darabont is currently talking about “The Shawshank Redemption,” the 25-year-old Oscar-nominated film, based on a story by Stephen King, as the film is set to be part of a special theatrical re-release at the end of the month. And during his interview, he said that Hollywood has changed, with studios meddling far more in the filmmaking process. Because of that, Darabont doesn’t believe you can make a film like ‘Shawshank’ today.
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“I am absolutely certain that I could not make that movie today,” said Darabont. “I don’t think I could get ‘Green Mile’ made today. I don’t think I could get ‘The Majestic’ made today. I can’t even begin to imagine the studio meddling that would have happened with a movie like ‘Shawshank,’ if not for Castle Rock (which produced it).”
He continued, “Castle Rock was — it was the magic kingdom. They were an extraordinary place founded by a filmmaker who understood the creative autonomy that a filmmaker needs to do their best work. It was a tremendously respectful, filmmaker-friendly place. I don’t know if there’s room in our business today for a company like Castle Rock, which is a darn shame.”
Even though Darabont seems a bit down on the current state of moviemaking, he does still see value in those superhero films that dominate the box office. He even gives a shout out to one of his favorite of the recent Marvel films, “Doctor Strange.”
“I love ‘Doctor Strange,’” he revealed. “I’m not necessarily a superhero kinda kind of moviegoer, but there are some examples. Benedict Cumberbatch (the lead) is like my favorite actor these days, I just adore him. That was done very, very well, and I really enjoyed it. That’s one of those you want to get the 4K Blu-ray when it comes out.”
If you’re a fan of the aforementioned “Shawshank,” the film is coming back to theaters, courtesy of Fathom Events, for three days, September 22, 24, and 25.