Lawrence of Arabia Remake: All You Need to Know
- Initial rumors about a Lawrence of Arabia remake have now been confirmed, with a prominent director attached to the project.
- The remake will be developed as a three-season TV series, probably for a more in-depth exploration of the rich history and characters involved.
- The director is seeking a substantial budget and a production studio to bring this ambitious project to life.
The vast mill of endless content that Hollywood stands on, at times, also goes through recycling. In line with the success that the Dune remake raked in at the hands of Denis Villeneuve, the entertainment industry currently stares at an out-pour of such revisits. Ranging from Disney’s Snow White live-action to Marvel’s Fantastic Four reboot, they lie in the plenty. To add itself to this list comes a stronger-than-ever update for a Lawrence of Arabia remake.
Initial rumors surfaced a while ago regarding the remodeling of the 1962 David Lean epic biographical drama. Widely accepted as one of the greatest pieces of cinema history, the original has quite a legacy for a remake to hold its own ground. However, recent news confirming a prominent director may land it a shot at fame.
Lawrence of Arabia remake gathers steam with a director on-board
Moving out of rumors and into a developing reality, The Hollywood Reporter newsletter confirmed that Roland Emmerich of Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow fame will be developing a Lawrence of Arabia remake. However, the plans have shifted to turn the project into a three-season affair instead of a feature film.
Claiming to be his passion project, the director is currently on the lookout for a production studio, seeking about $100 million as the starting budget for his “prestige TV series”. Additionally, Anthony McCarten, screenwriter for 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody, is set to write the first season. While additional details regarding the plot are still awaited, the report highlighted another possible key change.
Instead of naming it Lawrence of Arabia, the show may rechristen itself as Lawrence in Arabia. Emmerich stated that the move is simply because his project “has a little bit more characters” than the original David Lean movie. Remaining hopeful of securing a strong budget for his project, the director also pointed to his Those About to Die pocketing a $140 million plus budget, signaling his ambitions for the remake.
Roland Emmerich has big shoes to fill for this passion project
Based on TE Lawrence and his 1926 book, Seven Pillars of Wisdom, the David Lean version of Lawrence of Arabia won 7 Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. Carrying Peter O’Toole in the titular role, the film’s legacy spans beyond its on-screen glory, having made its way to preservation status in the US.
Thus, not long after news broke of Roland Emmerich developing a Lawrence of Arabia remake, speculation arose in mainstream media about him being able to pull off the project. The primary concern is a genre mismatch. The director has proven his mettle in disaster and sci-fi movies, but taking on a historical and biographical project of this nature is new to him.
On another note, Emmerich also has an inconsistent track record, with his last major flick, Moonfall ending up as a commercial failure and critical mess. Additionally, his focus on spectacle over substance may be another cause for worry as this project curation requires meticulous adaptation and cinematography, instead of explosion and terror.
