Summary
Possessionis getting a remake. The original 1981 cult horror movie is a well-regarded outing from Polish filmmaker Andrzej Żuławski. Starring five-time César Award winner Isabelle Adjani and futureJurassic Parkstar Sam Neill, it follows the bizarre fallout of Anna (Adjani) asking her husband Mark (Neill) for a divorce.1981’sPossession, which holds an 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes, has been honored in many ways in the decades since its release, including earning a spot on theSight & Soundlist of The Greatest Films of All Time, tying for No. 243 as of 2022.
PerThe Hollywood Reporter,aPossessionremake is in the works withSmile’s Parker Finn attachedto produce, write, and direct. Robert Pattinson is partnering with Finn as a producer, though there is an option for the star to appear in the movie as well, once the cast is settled down the line and his availability can be worked out. A bidding war is heating up for the project, with companies including A24, Warner Bros., and Netflix showing interest.
Robert Pattinson Could Save The Possession Remake
The Star’s Instincts May Justify Remaking The Iconic Horror Movie
Possessionis such a singular cinematic work thatremaking it doesn’t make a lot of sense. The primary focus of the movie is its atmosphere, the performances of the leads, and Żuławski’s uncanny filmmaking aesthetic, rather than the characters or the narrative they inhabit. Taking those latter elements from the1980s horror movieand translating them into a modernized context wouldn’t necessarily result in a movie with a strong enough hook to pique any major audience interest.
However, Pattinson’s instincts as an actor could prove that there is more going on with this project than a surface-level remake. Although he is best known for blockbuster roles in projects includingTwilightandThe Batman,Pattinson’s track record with genre movies sees him partnering with unique filmmakerswith singular visions. This includes working with David Cronenberg on the mystery dramaMaps to the Stars, the Safdie Brothers on the thrillerGood Time, Claire Denis on the sci-fi outingHigh Life, and Robert Eggers on the horror movieThe Lighthouse.
One of Pattinson’s next projects, the Bong Joon Ho sci-fi dramaMickey 17, sees him following the same path.
What these disparateRobert Pattinson movieshave in common is the star’s relentless commitment to the uncanny and the strange. He also showed this instinct with his nearly unrecognizable voice role in the English dub of Miyazaki Hayao’s recent animated movieThe Boy and the Heron. IfPossessioncan live up to the standard set by previous Pattinson-led genre movies, it may have a unique take on the material with enough of an off-kilter version to properly honor the beloved original movie.
Possession
Cast
Possession is a horror-drama film by director Andrzej Żuławski that was released in 1981. The film follows international spy Mark, who returns home only for his wife to divorce him and leave him for another man. The triangle between the three grows increasingly violent, but the truth behind Anna goes deeper and darker than any of them realize.
