Stanko's Stance

Having just wanted The Most Dangerous Game (1932) and thoroughly enjoying it, it crossed my mind that this movie based off a short story is reaping for a remake. I would be totally fine with keeping the 1930s settings, but the story also lends itself to a modernization. Regardless of what time frame one puts it in, the basic premise of a group of individuals trapped on an island with an unsavory and conniving host who hunts them for sport is transferable.

For those who haven’t seen the original (let us be real here for a second), the synopsis reads as follows: “An insane hunter arranges for a ship to be wrecked on an island where he can indulge in some sort of hunting and killing of the passengers.”

There are only five notable and primary characters in the movie. A goof, a damsel, a hero, the villain and a henchman. For modern times and audiences, I would make sure to include at least one more female character so there isn’t just a “oh please help me” scream stereotype.

• Bob: The ideal hero whom the villian sees as his biggest possible conquest
• Eve: The attractive dame who seems to know what is happening on the island. She rises to the occasion when partnered with Bob.
• Martin: The drunkard who is oblivious to the dangers around him.
• Zaroff: The wealthy villain who only gets thrills from hunting humans on his island. Quick witted and talks a lot in foreboding ways.
• Ivan: Zaroff’s henchmen. Man of no words, only blunt force.

There are a lot of differing possibilities anyone could do with The Most Dangerous Game. But it all begins with the tone you want to set. Is this going to be a Blumhouse Production that uses a small budget to create a profitable investment? Is this going to be an A24 artsy more mythical tale that embraces the more fairy tale components? These were the two studios that came to find for moi, so I am going to do two movie recastings.

First is going to the modern time remake of The Most Dangerous Game under the production style of Blumhouse. In a later blog, we will adhere more to the early 20th century and setting and use the A24 flair for the medieval and mythical.

The Most Dangerous Game
2020 Edition

Director: Gareth Evans

Gareth Evans is most known for his OUTSTANDING directing work on the The Raid: Redemption (2011) and The Raid 2 (2014) movies. So he knows how to do action. The film that also triggers him as a strong option for me is the Netflix horror original Apostle (2018). It was a unique setting that he went all out in making that movie an idea all its own. He can bring the bright colors of a remote jungle island together with a haunting tone while maneuvering the more bombastic action sequences it’ll take to intrigue a certain audience.

Writer: Edgar Wright

Does Edgar Wright write bad movies? No he does not. Can he take the already inherent wisdom and cleverness in the original The Most Dangerous Game and modernize it well? I definitely think so.

Bob: Common

The most unsung part of John Wick: Chapter 2 was Common as Cassian. The dude is cool as hell and will bring an audience in. Common is used to being in action movies with Wanted (2008), Suicide Squad (2016) and Smokin’ Aces (2006), so this Blumhouse Production will be right up his alley.

It is easy to imagine Common as the suave man in a suit at the start of The Most Dangerous Game, and the gritty ripped clothes trecker at the movie’s end.

Eve: Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Mary Elizabeth Winstead needs a win. She has potential as a action movie star, but her last two movies Gemini Man (2019) and Birds Of Prey (2020) have left her character in the dust. She was amazing as a scared badass in 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016), and I have heard only good things from her efforts in FX’s Fargo. Let her be in a new movie that allows her to shine a bit.

Martin: Tom Hardy

Tom Hardy as Alfie Solomons from Peaky Blinders. That was first thought. The confidence and arrogance he has in that show, but shift the accent and shave the beard. Also would be a nice little spin seeing how Tom Hardy is usually the macho hero in movies but instead he’ll be the one fooled this time.

Zaroff: Jon Hamm

Jon Hamm playing a unintentionally comedic rich asshole with an ego the size of Antarctica? I think he’d be able to play Zaroff so well, pulling off the wacky facial expressions while also having having that air of menace when necessary.

Ivan: Iko Uwais

Iko Uwais stared in Evans’ The Raid: Redemption and The Raid 2, and he may be the best hand-to-hand action movie star in the business right now. He does not need to speak many words to show he is just a killing machine.

Ivan will not be nearly as submissive as the 1932 version, but a henchman with the likes of Iko Uwais’ skills will challenge any hero.

Janet: Lupita Nyong’o (NEW CHARACTER ALERT)

For the record, I see Janet as someone who has been surviving on the island for a while, hiding away from Zaroff and his evil cohorts. Possibly her being chased and presumably “dying”by an unknown enemy can start the movie. I’ll leave it up to Edgar Wright and Gareth Evans to successfully navigate ways to hint at her existence without springing it on the audience like a cheap shortcut.

Nyong’o is a phenomenal actress, so let her put her own mark on this new character. She has the subtle humor from Little Monsters (2019), the action from Black Panther (2018) and fantastic rage as shown in Us (2019). I think she she could full off the Lawrence Fishburne from Predators (2010), but more fleshed out and more satisfying.