Despite rumblings late last year that Brian De Palma would be getting psycho-thriller Toyer finally before cameras, it appears that the long-gestating film is once again on the back burner. At least, that’s the impression given by the news that De Palma is throwing himself into a remake of French drama Crime d’amour , to be titled Passion.
The original, which had Alain Corneau on co-writing and directing duties, starred Kristin Scott Thomas and Ludivine Sagnier as warring corporate executives whose bitter rivalry sees one of them turn to murder.
While there’s no word on casting yet, it’s conceivable that the two actresses could return to their roles, but more likely that De Palma will aim to make Passion different enough from the original so that it stands on its own. For a start, it’ll be relocated to the UK from France, according to producer Said Ben Said, who runs the company that backed both the original and this new take.
"Not since Dressed to Kill have I had a chance to combine eroticism, suspense, mystery and murder into one spell-binding cinematic experience," De Palma told Variety. Hopefully he’ll be bringing the classic De Palma to it, and not the man who made Black Dahlia. Or – shudder – Mission to Mar****s.
With Euro-financing in place, De Palma aims to kick off shooting on German soundstages this August, with exteriors shot in London after that.