David Ayer has dropped out of Universal’s planned remake of the gangster story Scarface.
The Hollywood Reporter is stating that the director and the studio are parting ways because Universal found his take on the material “too dark.”
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story star Diego Luna is still attached to star in the film, which will swap the Miami location of the 1983 Brian DePalma directed version of the story for Los Angeles. The original 1932 version starring Paul Muni and directed by Howard Hawks was set in Chicago.
Previously, Training Day director Antoine Fuqua had been attached to the film before a scheduling conflict led to his departure. It is not yet clear if the studio has a replacement for Ayer in mind. Hell Or High Water director David MacKenzie and Patriots Day helmer Peter Berg were under consideration by Universal to direct at various points and it is possible that the studio could put them back on the list of possible candidates for the job.
Free from Scarface, Ayer now has more time to putt he finishing touches on Bright, a fantasy film starring Will Smith which is set to premier at the end of the year. He is also developing Gotham City Sirens, a potential installment in Warner Brothers’ DC Comics Extended Universe franchise that would reteam him with his Suicide Squad costar Margot Robbie. However, Warners is waiting until November’s Justice League opens before they make final decisions on what projects, of which Gotham City Sirens is one of many options, they will go forward with.
Not sure about this yet