Netflix Is Remaking Steve McQueen’s Classic Crime Thriller THE GETAWAY
Another Steve McQueen classic is heading back into the spotlight. According to reports, Netflix is developing a new version of The Getaway, the 1972 crime thriller that originally starred McQueen and Ali MacGraw.
Philip Barantini, the filmmaker behind Netflix’s acclaimed series Adolescence, is set to direct, while The Batman and The Town writer Peter Craig is handling the screenplay. So, there’s a strong team of talent developing this.
McQueen’s filmography is packed with legendary titles like Bullitt, The Great Escape, and The Magnificent Seven, so it’s no surprise studios keep revisiting his movies.
Some of those remakes have worked out better than others. Audiences already got a modern take on The Thomas Crown Affair, and Michael B. Jordan is currently developing another one. The Magnificent Seven also got the remake treatment in 2016. Now The Getaway is stepping back into the mix for another shot.
And yes, this technically marks the second remake already. Back in 1994, Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger starred in another adaptation of the story. That version struggled both critically and commercially, bringing in around $30 million against a reported $37 million budget.
Even the original McQueen movie didn’t exactly win critics over when it first arrived, though its reputation has grown considerably over the years. The story has always had appeal as it centers on a recently released criminal and his wife, who are forced into survival mode after a robbery spirals into chaos.
Netflix clearly believes there’s still fuel left in the concept. Craig feels like a great fit for this material. The guy knows how to write gritty crime stories filled with damaged characters and escalating tension. Pairing him with Barantini could make for something intense and grounded instead of a glossy action remake.
That said, fans probably shouldn’t expect this one anytime soon. Barantini is currently tied up working on Netflix’s upcoming series Rabbit, Rabbit, which was also created by Craig.
He’s also got Enola Holmes 3 on the schedule, with that film expected to hit Netflix in July. So while The Getaway appears to be a priority for the streamer, it may still be a couple years before cameras actually roll.
Casting is going to make or break this movie. The entire story depends on the chemistry between the two leads, and if Netflix wants this remake to land, they’ll need actors who can sell both the romance and the desperation. This isn’t the kind of film where you can just throw two big stars together and hope it works.
Now the big question becomes whether Netflix gives this thing a real theatrical run or drops it straight onto streaming. A tense crime thriller like this feels like the kind of movie that could play incredibly well with a crowd on the big screen.