Tony Montana would be displeased at the news Scarface is going to be remade again

In 2011 there have already been a slew of remakes of familiar movie favourites.

So it should come as no surprise Hollywood is returning to the well again to reboot silver screen classic Scarface.

Unlike examples such as the critically maligned Straw Dogs or the panned Arthur however, it will be a completely re-imagined flick based on the original concept.

Say hello to my little friend: Perhaps Tony Montana would be displeased at the news Scarface is going to be remade again

Interestingly, while most people think of the 1983 version that starred Al Pacino as iconic Cuban anti-hero Tony Montana when they hear the title today, it is not the original.

The 1932 first entry in the series was a seminal film in its own right, and is regarded as the more ground-breaking of the pair, holding a position as one of the first great talkies.

 

 

It followed the exploits of Italian gangster Tony Camonte as he climbed the criminal underground ladder in prohibition era Chicago.

According to Deadline Hollywood the new version will take the same basic concept, in which an immigrant outsider barges his way into the criminal establishment, but have a new distinctive story.

Gunning for revenge: And maybe Tony Camonte would not to too happy either

He will then become a kingpin through his own ruthlessness and brutality, but will be brought down by his flaws and weaknesses.

Specifics about the new main character are being kept under wraps, but no doubt his origin and background will be as vital to the new story as in the previous versions.

Universal Pictures is developing the project, and has reportedly been tasking writers to script a take for a film that will be produced by the company's former chairman Marc Shmuger and heavyweight Martin Bregman. 

Good business: Legendary Martin Bregman and Marc Shmuger are producing

The latter produced the Pacino version, as other key hits in the legendary actor's career such as Serpico, Carlito's Way and Sea Of Love.

The decision to remake the movie will no doubt draw howls of derision, although the Brian De Palma remake also drew a lot of criticism at the time because the original is considered a cinematic classic.

The original picture was produced by colourful mogul Howard Hughes, and followed the exploits of the insanely violent gangster Camonte as he claws his way to top.

Original and (arguably) best: The poster for the classic first film

It starred legendary actor Paul Muni in one of his breakthrough roles, which led to a storied career that would see him win an Oscar and be nominated for five others.

The film's second lead George Raft became a professional success thanks to his role as Camonte's best chum Guino Rinaldo, with his character's trait of habitually flipping a coin becoming a classic reference. 

After the original ending was deemed too violent by censors, Hughes funded a new one, but when it was still deemed too violent he had the original put back in and showed it in more lenient states in the US.

The De Palma version charts the life of Montana, as the Cuban refugee rises from the bottom to become a cocaine kingpin in Miami.

It contains iconic cinema moments including Al Pacino sniffing away at a small mountain of cocaine on his desk as he prepares for a final shootout with gangster rivals.

Posted in: Tony Montana would be displeased at the news Scarface is going to be remade again