Stand up comedy lovers, prepare yourself for a treat! Eddie Murphy, the comedy kingpin and a legend in Hollywood still aims at making “It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World,” the 1963 Stanley Kramer comedy starring an incredible list of actors.
During his interview with Entertainment Tonight, Murphy unveiled that he wants to recreate this movie in modern world and his vision is to cast the greatest comedians of the last 30 years. As Murphy said, “Anybody that was funny over the last 30 years is going to be in this movie.” This kind of daring seems to be not only an homage to the original but also a guarantee of a fresh and comedic experience.
The original film featuring Spencer Tracy, Buddy Hackett, Jonathan Winters and Milton Berle saw characters engage in all sorts of crazy antics while in a race to find hidden treasure. Despite the plot being appealing, with many adaptations following the movie, including Rat Race in 2001, no adaptation has captured the charm and energy of the original film. This remake was written by Jez Butterworth who also worked on “Ford v Ferrari” and Murphy's version of the show aims at fusing old-school comedy with modern quips.
They are confident that Murphy's industry influence will assemble a cast as rich and star-studded as the first movie. As yet, the specific names have not been revealed but it is exciting to think of comedy giants who would be sharing screen space.
Should this project be approved, then Netflix appears as the most plausible platform for such an enormous endeavor. The studio would require significant financial support, especially, given the star-studded production Murphy has in mind. Thus, there is a unique opportunity to create a high-quality production that can be appreciated by the modern viewer while remaining faithful to the original idea.
In the case of the latest screen full of reboots and remakes, Murphy's “It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” can become a masterpiece of cinematic referentiality and a new comedy hit. Tune in for more coverage on this great project as it progresses and get ready for a movie that may redefine the new generation ensemble comedy genre.
