Brian De Palma Set for One Last Cinematic Comeback
Brian De Palma is gearing up for a final directorial effort, with a new crime thriller on the horizon. Find out what’s in store for the legendary filmmaker’s swan song.
While many of his contemporaries from the New Hollywood era have managed to keep their careers ticking along, Brian De Palma’s recent output hasn’t quite hit the mark. Over the past twenty years, his films haven’t matched the acclaim or impact of his earlier work, especially when compared to the likes of Martin Scorsese. After the lukewarm reception to his 2019 release, Domino, plenty of punters assumed that was the end of the road for the director.
Turns out, De Palma isn’t done just yet. He’s stepping back behind the camera for one more go, with a new project called Sweet Vengeance set to start shooting this summer. Details about the story are still under wraps, but there’s a sense this could be a return to form for the bloke who gave us some of cinema’s most memorable moments.
Drawing Inspiration from True Crime
Back in 2018, the director behind Scarface mentioned he was working on a film inspired by a couple of real-life murder cases and other true crime stories. That sort of material seems right up his alley, given his knack for suspense and intrigue.
His last outing, Domino, was plagued by production headaches and ended up with a quiet digital release rather than a big-screen debut. Here’s hoping things go a bit smoother this time around, especially since the new film is being billed as a crime thriller.
I’m interested in how they tell the story of the crime, so I’ll do it the way [they] do on television, based on two real cases.
Filming is expected to kick off in Portugal, with casting news likely to drop soon. With audiences showing more interest in original stories lately, there’s a fair chance De Palma’s style could find a new crowd if he nails it.
Unrealised Projects and What Could Have Been
Before settling on Sweet Vengeance, De Palma nearly took on a very different project. The director of Mission: Impossible once considered making a film called Predator—not to be confused with the sci-fi franchise that’s had a bit of a revival under Dan Trachtenberg.
This version of Predator was inspired by the scandals surrounding Harvey Weinstein. De Palma’s idea was to craft a horror film about a sexual predator set within the film industry itself.
I am writing a film about this scandal, which I am currently discussing with a French producer. My character will not be called Harvey Weinstein. But it will be a horror movie, with a sexual aggressor, and it will happen in the film industry.
That project never got off the ground, but De Palma now has another shot at delivering a gripping crime story. If this does end up being his last film, it’s a fitting way for one of the medium’s most distinctive voices to bow out.
Keen to see what De Palma has in store? Let us know what you reckon below.
No official release date has been announced for Sweet Vengeance yet.