MGM’s apparent pursuit to remake every single movie in its catalog will continue with the long-gestating remake of the 1960 classic Western The Magnificent Seven. Now, Denzel Washington and his Training Day director Antoine Fuqua have been linked to the project.
The blog SchmoesKnow has reported that Washington is being pursued for the lead role, now that Fuqua is on board. Fuqua was offered the director’s chair last week, the Hollywood Reporter confirmed at the time.
The blog’s report has been given an extra boost, since Deadline has just reported that Fuqua and Washington are already in early talks for the project.
MGM has been trying to make a remake of Magnificent Seven for several years, even with Tom Cruise attached at one point. Cruise is now out of the picture, but the studio has continued to work on the script. Back in December, John Lee Hancock (Saving Mr. Banks) was hired to work on a new draft.
Of course, The Magnificent Seven, which starred Steve McQueen and Yul Brynner, was a remake itself. The story was adapted from the Akira Kurosawa classic Seven Samurai.
Washington and Fuqua just filmed The Equalizer together. Sony is so enthusiastic about the project that the studio is reportedly considering greenlighting a sequel. The movie doesn’t come out until September.
image courtesy of Roger Wong/INFphoto.com