Thomas Vinterberg Responds To Possibility Of Leonardo DiCaprio Doing English Language Remake Of Oscar Winner тАШAnother RoundтАЩ
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The English language rights to the Danish film тАЬAnother RoundтАЭ have been acquired by Leonardo DiCaprioтАЩs production company Appian Way and is being eyed as a star vehicle for the actor.
One day after Thomas VinterbergтАЩs drama about a group of school teacher friends who decide to experiment with the idea that life could be improved by maintaining a constant state of mild drunkenness won the Academy Award for Best International Feature, the remake rights have officially been acquired.
DiCaprio and Jennifer DavissonтАЩs company won the rights in an auction for a remake, following the filmтАЩs premiere at TIFF. Jake Gyllenhaal and Riva MarkerтАЩs Nine Stories and Elizabeth Banks through Universal Pictures also reportedly showed interest in acquiring the rights. The auction was in the works for two weeks prior to SundayтАЩs Oscars ceremony, but was only now finalized.
RELATED: Mads Mikkelsen Says There Was Almost A Kiss Between Him And Hugh Dancy In The тАШHannibalтАЩ Finale
Vinterberg, who co-wrote the script with Tobias Lindholm, was reportedly intrigued by the idea of seeing DiCaprio take on the lead role of school teacher Martin, originated by Mads Mikkelsen.
Vinterberg seemed to brush off the idea of DiCaprio taking on the role, telling IndieWire, тАЬThis is all new to me. So IтАЩll discuss this with them, and weтАЩll see.тАЭ
While news of DiCaprio taking on the part was met with mixed reaction, it wasnтАЩt a big deal to Vinterberg.
тАЬIтАЩve seen various interpretations of my work before,тАЭ he said. тАЬItтАЩs an interesting artistic thing to see something grow into different versions. Now itтАЩs in the hands of the finest actor you can get and besides being a brilliant actor, heтАЩs made very intelligent choices throughout his career. I feel thereтАЩs a lot of integrity in the choices heтАЩs made. IтАЩm full of hope and curiosity about what theyтАЩre up to.тАЭ
And as for those who suggested that Mikkelsen, who speaks English, should have the part, he continued, тАЬIтАЩll leave those kind of decisions to Appian Way and the dialogue IтАЩll have with them. I donтАЩt know if Mads would do such a thing. My first thought would be to make a different interpretation. Asking the same actor to do a different interpretation could be a little bit confusing. But I wonтАЩt be the main creative force in this. That would have to be up to the people who end up doing it.тАЭ
See more reaction to the news below:
There’s no rhyme or reason to remake ANOTHER ROUND. The film is accessible af. It’s literally right on Hulu. International films have a greater reach than ever before in America because of growing interest in world cinema in audiences. We don’t need a fucking American remake. https://t.co/ACvj0fRDfS
тАФ Rendy Jones (@Rendy_Jones) April 26, 2021
The end of Leonardo DiCaprio’s English-language #AnotherRound: https://t.co/m43m5fYyQY
What the hell just watch Vinterberg’s movieтАж it won an Oscar for a reason. pic.twitter.com/Ex3blj0jOe
тАФ Zack Sharf (@ZSharf) April 26, 2021
When I hear they’re doing an American remake of Another Round: pic.twitter.com/o7qy9KMiFR
тАФ Alan Sepinwall (@sepinwall) April 26, 2021
this is literally the worst news possible. donтАЩt touch another round, itтАЩs damn near perfect
тАФ benjamin (@kersey_benjamin) April 26, 2021
Know what, I will allow it if the friend group is filled out exclusively with other members of the Pussy Posse https://t.co/ZkuNm8ey1b
тАФ Alison Willmore (@alisonwillmore) April 26, 2021
A writer and director for the project have not been announced yet.
тАЬAnother RoundтАЭ won several awards including the BAFTA for Best Film Not In The English Language, as well as several other top prizes from film criticsтАЩ circles. Vinterberg was also nominated for Best Director at the Oscars.
RELATED: Thomas Vinterberg Dedicates His тАШAnother RoundтАЩ Oscar Win To His Late Daughter In An Emotional Speech
Accepting the Academy Award for Best International Feature, Vinterberg said the movie was тАЬabout letting control of life as I lost control of my own.тАЭ Four days after production began, his 19-year-old daughter Ida was killed by a distracted driver.
тАЬIda, this is a miracle that just happened, and youтАЩre a part of this miracle. Maybe youтАЩve been pulling some strings somewhere. This oneтАЩs for you,тАЭ he said in his Oscars speech, dedicating the win to her memory.