Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro are planning a sequel to the critically-acclaimed Taxi Driver, the 1976 movie that made De Niro an icon, according to industry gossip at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Scorsese 67, is in Berlin to promote his new psychothriller, Shutter Island, a thriller based on the bestselling book by Dennis Lehane.
The reports appear to originate from a Danish film magazine, Ekko which reported that Martin Scorsese is in talks with Lars Von Trier about a follow-up to the classic 1976. It's unclear whether it would be a reboot, sequel or prequel or what but Von Trier and Scorsese were both at the film festival allegedly talking about collaborating on the film.
Meanwhile, Taxi Driver screenwriter Paul Schrader has provided some insight into the rumoured sequel's plot, revealing Scorsese has been considering a follow-up film for years.
Schrader tells the New York Post,
“I was talking with Martin Scorsese about doing a sequel to Taxi Driver, where (Travis Bickle) is older.”
Taxi Driver (1976), Robert De Niro
Von Trier's partner at the Zentropa film production company, Peter Aalbek, would “neither confirm nor deny” the news, but did say an official announcement would be forthcoming. It's entirely possible that von Trier and Scorsese could be co-directing the new film together, or that these are two different projects in the works. But hopefully, the aforementioned conversation between von Trier and Scorsese means the latter will be involved in the Taxi Driver sequel in some way (perhaps in an advisory capacity?).
Although von Trier has always seemed like something of an iconoclast, he wouldn't be the first European director to try a sequel or spin-off from a successful classic. Recently, German-born Werner Herzog helmed Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, which was inspired by Abel Ferrera's 1992 film Bad Lieutenant.
Should be a great project for Scorsese and De Niro, don't you think?
Taxi Driver Poster (1976)
This sounds like a very bad idea
If Martin was to direct it could have some potential
With Von Trier – I do not like the chance that this film have 1% of the power of the original :-(
I don’t think this is such a great idea, they should leave taxi driver as one of the greatest films ever (my personal favorit of all times) they must have the greatest idea in the world if they think they can pull off a sequel, but anyways, I’m wishing they don’t :)
such a classic from 1976! a sequel would be totally unrealistic since it is clear from the original that Travis Bickle is going to go on a murderous rampage once again. he could only have survived another 3 months from the end of the first film and they want to make a sequel with him 35 years later…come on !!!
why instead not make a prequel which focusses more on Travis earlier life describing his family situation,why he has problems socializing with others,the physcological impact vietnam had on him, whether he was born and broght up in new york. all these things are only implied but not entirely explained in taxi driver. that would be a great idea or a prequel.