The first time I heard Universal was circling another Scarface remake, I rolled my eyes. How many directors—David Yates, Pablo Larraín, Antoine Fuqua, even Luca Guadagnino—have tried and failed to crack that 1983 albatross? But now, with Danny Ramirez set to star, the studio is doing something radical: ignoring Brian De Palma's legacy entirely. This isn't a remake. It's a return to the source.
A Return to the Novel, Not the Icon
Producer Tom Culver told Deadline the goal is to adapt Armitage Trail's 1930 novel—the original material for Howard Hawks' 1932 classic—rather than De Palma's Miami fever dream. “We want to modernize it,” Culver said. “Obviously, there's the Pacino legacy… but I think it's ripe for modernizing.” Smart move. The novel is public domain, so no legal battles with Universal, and it lets them avoid the nostalgia trap that sank past attempts.
Ramirez, who stole scenes in Top Gun: Maverick and just wrapped Avengers: Doomsday, is juggling a lot. He'll co-star with Pedro Pascal in Todd Haynes' De Noche (shooting early 2024) and reprise Manny in The Last of Us Season 3. His energy is contagious, but can he carry a role as iconic as Tony Montana? The novel's protagonist, Tony Camonte, is more of a street-level thug than De Palma's larger-than-life anti-hero—maybe that's the key to freshness.
The Curse of Remake Hell
Past attempts read like a who's who of unfulfilled potential. Yates was attached in the 2010s, then Larraín took over. Fuqua bounced in and out. The most intriguing was Guadagnino's 2020 deal, paired with a script by Joel and Ethan Coen—can you imagine that? A Coen brothers Scarface directed by Guadagnino? It's a shame he dropped out, but maybe this new take can channel that unmade vision without being tied to De Palma's 80s excess.
Why This Could Work (Finally)
The 1932 Hawks version is a tight, brutal gangster tale. De Palma's update captured the greed of the Reagan era. A modern take could tap into today's anxieties—immigration, social mobility, the cost of success. Ramirez has the charm to make Tony sympathetic, but the real test is whether the filmmakers can resist the urge to mimic Pacino's performance. If they stick to the novel's roots, this could be the Scarface remake that finally works. Here's hoping they don't screw it up.
What to Remember About the New ‘Scarface' Adaptation
- Source Material Shift: Unlike past remakes targeting De Palma's 1983 film, this draws from Armitage Trail's 1930 novel (public domain), freeing creators from Universal's legacy constraints.
- Ramirez's Momentum: Fresh off Avengers: Doomsday and upcoming roles in De Noche (with Pedro Pascal) and The Last of Us Season 3, he brings energy to a project long stuck in development purgatory.
- Nostalgia Avoidance: Producer Tom Culver stresses keeping the story “contemporary”—a smart move to differentiate from the 80s iconography that doomed prior remakes.
- Guadagnino's Near-Miss: The 2020 attempt with Luca Guadagnino and the Coen brothers' script remains a tantalizing “what if”—will this new take honor that vision or forge its own path?
- Public Domain Edge: Using the original novel sidesteps legal hurdles, enabling a fresh take without studio interference on the source material.
What do you think—can a modern Scarface work without De Palma's legacy? Share your thoughts below, and stay tuned for updates on Ramirez's busy slate.
Sources: Deadline
