John Landis Asked Edgar Wright To Remake AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON and He Said No
Just in case you need another reason to love Edgar Wright, here’s a fun little bit of trivia for you. Director John Landis approached him at one point and asked him if he would direct a remake of his classic film An American Werewolf in London, and he was smart enough to actually turn down the offer.
Discussing Film recently attended a Shaun of the Dead Q&A screening and director Edgar Wright showed up for a little Q&A. He was asked about the film and he said that “he believes An American Werewolf in London is a ;desert island movie’ and he wouldn’t want to see it be remade and therefore turned down the project.”
He then went into a little more detail with /Film confirming the story and saying, “It was years ago. Way before Max [Landis] came onboard. There was no script, just the idea of doing it. John [Landis], whom I love, asked me and I said it’s a perfect movie as far as I’m concerned, and I have nothing to add to it.”
An American Werewolf in London is a perfect movie! Right now John Landis’ son Max is working on a script, but I really hope that nothing ever comes of it. That horror/comedy masterpiece just needs to be left alone. This is one of those films that I can watch over and over again and never get tired of.
I love that Wright actually turned down Landis and his response to be asked is perfect. When previously talking about his love for the film, write told /Film:
“Off the top of my head, my favorite needle drop, and I think it’s magical, is the cut to the end credits of An American Werewolf in London. Every time I watch that movie, I just think it’s the perfect, perfect ending. I don’t know how to talk about it without ruining it for someone who has never seen it. It’s such a tragic, heartbreaking ending and then a cut to black and the most upbeat, doo-wop version of ‘Blue Moon’ by The Marcels. I remember the first time I saw it, it gave me such a rush and goosebumps. And it still does. I think it’s the greatest cut-to-black credits song ever. It sort of sums up the mischief of the movie. There’s real alchemy in that movie. It somehow manages to do everything. It’s funny and scary and heart-wrenching at the same time.”
I couldn’t agree with him more.