"Big Trouble in Little China" Remake with...The Rock?

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**Alpharius**

The original is one of my favorite movies - though I'll admit to not having seen it in while, so not sure how well it holds up.

I had no idea a remake was in the works...

http://spinoff.comicbookresources.com/2015/06/01/dwayne-johnson-in-talks-to-star-and-produce-in-big-trouble-in-little-china-remake/

The increasingly ubiquitous Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson looks to be close to remaking an ’80s cult classic. The Wrap reported Monday that Johnson is in negotiations to produce and star in a new take on “Big Trouble in Little China” at 20th Century Fox. “X-Men: First Class” and “Thor” writers Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz are on board to pen the script.

Johnson would star as Jack Burton, the role originated by Kurt Russell in the John Carpenter-directed original. Like in the 1986 film, Burton is a truck driver caught in an ancient battle, set in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Johnson and his production company, 7 Bucks Entertainment, pitched the remake to Fox; the original is said to be one of Johnson’s favorite movies.

The original “Big Trouble in Little China” flopped at the box office (grossing $11.1 million off of a reported $20 million production budget), but gained cult status after its theatrical run. BOOM! Studios recently revived the property as a comic book series.

2015 has been another successful year for The Rock — just this past weekend, his new film “San Andreas” won the box office with $54.6 million, and “Furious 7,” featuring Johnson as part of the ensemble cast, has passed $1.5 billion worldwide.

I also had no idea the original did that poorly during it's initial run!

**Grey Templar**

I guess Hollywood is officially out of original material.

**Ahtman**

I still have the CE of the movie so a remake doesn't really bother me as I can still watch the original. Admittedly Dwayne Johnson seems a bit odd for the sort of loser* everyman Jack Burton.

*He just barely succeeds at anything, which is part of the charm.

Alpharius wrote:
I also had no idea the original did that poorly during it's initial run!

Oh I did.

**KingCracker**

Hmmmm....,I dunno, I love the original is easily a favorite of mine. I'm not seeing this being good. Jack Burton is a friggin legend

**BobtheInquisitor**

I'm not sure today's audience will respond the same way to seeing a woman kidnapped and presumably forced into prostitution... and her plight being eclipsed by a quest to retrieve a stolen truck. Certainly the tone would be different.

That said, I have no idea how they will top the dialog and costuming of the original. And they better have an Al Leong cameo.

**Rainbow Dash**

Jeez, you know I'm a reasonable guy. But, I've just experienced some very unreasonable things.

**BobtheInquisitor**

Rainbow Dash wrote:
Jeez, you know I'm a reasonable guy. But, I've just experienced some very unreasonable things.

Indeed.

**-Loki-**

Oh my god, what is this, don't tell me....

**Nostromodamus**

No.

Just...

No.

**Gitzbitah**

I thought Ken Jeong would be a perfect way to make sure the movie works.

My wife thought that wasn't going far enough. He needs to play both the good and evil sorceror roles!

Replace the damsel in distress with an extremely irritable and violent Aubrey Plaza, and you've got yourself an action comedy for the ages.... again.

**Bromsy**

I had always hoped that this doing so badly in theaters would keep it safe from the relentless tread of the Hollywood garbage machine.

I need a drink.

I mean... the flipping Rock? Come on.

**ScootyPuffJunior**

Grey Templar wrote:
I guess Hollywood is officially out of original material.

This isn't a recent development...

**Alpharius**

I thinking that this one has a chance to be OK!

**whembly**

I frick'n adore the original movie...

However, I'd be alright with the Rock as long as it's not the exact same story.

**OrlandotheTechnicoloured**

Alex C wrote:
No.

Just...

No.

you took the words right out of my mouth,

and The Rock? nope, no, no, no, no, no

**Spetulhu**

whembly wrote:
I frick'n adore the original movie...

However, I'd be alright with the Rock as long as it's not the exact same story.

This. The old movie is great, but the Rock isn't half bad at action either. Ofc he has a lot more steroids than Kurt Russel ever did - that's really part of Kurt's charm, having some muscles but not looking like a 'roided out weightlifter. The remake will need a good script to make us feel the same sort of sympathy for the Rock.

**Ratius**

#sigh
How can you improve on perfection?
Please leave well enough alone =/

**Kanluwen**

Spetulhu wrote:
whembly wrote:
I frick'n adore the original movie...

However, I'd be alright with the Rock as long as it's not the exact same story.

This. The old movie is great, but the Rock isn't half bad at action either. Ofc he has a lot more steroids than Kurt Russel ever did - that's really part of Kurt's charm, having some muscles but not looking like a 'roided out weightlifter. The remake will need a good script to make us feel the same sort of sympathy for the Rock.

They have a writer from Thor and X-Men: First Class...

I'm not concerned about this film, at all, being a dud.

**Tannhauser42**

Could be worse, it could be Vin Diesel.*
The Rock, at least, should mean we'll still get a fun movie.

*not that Vin is a bad actor, he can be quite good when a director wants him to be, but he's usually stuck playing the same thing over and over.

**warboss**

I'm a big fan of the original but I'm not sure the Rock has done anything that I've found to be funny and humor is definitely a part of that movie. While I don't think Vin Diesel would be a good choice either, at least he did that Navy Seal babysitter movie which surprisingly was good (and my second favorite movie of his). I think the guy who does Starlord in the Guardians of the Galaxy movie has the necessary level of smartass-ness for the part.

**usernamesareannoying**

loved the original, and yes... it holds up to time imo.
love the rock.

just don't try to compare the two and I think you'll have a good time with this one.

the pork chop express keeps on rolling....

**pretre**

I talked about this with the wife last night. As much as I LOVE the original, I'm keeping an open mind.

The idea of the Rock as a unlovable loser-hero who lucks his way into saving the day is kind of appealing to me.

Afterall, the Rock already has a lot of practice delivering lines in the third person:
"You know what ol' Jack Burton says at a time like this? Jack Burton is gonna lay the smackdown on your candy ass."

**Frazzled**

pretre wrote:
I talked about this with the wife last night. As much as I LOVE the original, I'm keeping an open mind.

The idea of the Rock as a unlovable loser-hero who lucks his way into saving the day is kind of appealing to me.

Afterall, the Rock already has a lot of practice delivering lines in the third person:
"You know what ol' Jack Burton says at a time like this? Jack Burton is gonna lay the smackdown on your candy ass."

That actually might be pretty good. I could really see it. However, I imagine they'll go more Brendan Fraser/The Mummy route.

**gorgon**

I can only assume that the Jack Burton role will be re-written to suit the Rock. It may or may not be a good film, but I don't think the writers would be dumb enough to think that Mr. Johnson could or should ape the performance given by Mr. Russell.

That movie is almost as quotable as Anchorman.

"Have you paid your dues, Jack? The check is in the mail."

Jack: "How'd you get up there?"
Egg: "Wasn't easy!"

"May the wings of liberty never lose a feather."

Gracie: "I'd go with you but..."
Jack: "I know, there's a problem with your face."

"You people sit tight, hold the fort and keep the home fires burning. And if we're not back by dawn... call the president."

**Ratius**

Jack Burton: "Jack" what? I'm supposed to buy this gak? 2000 years, he can't find one broad to fit the bill? Come on, Dave, you must be doing something seriously wrong!

Egg Shen: Can see things no one else can see. Do things no one else can do.
Jack Burton: Real things?
Egg Shen: As real as Lo Pan!
Jack Burton: Hey, what more can a guy ask for?
Egg Shen: Oh, the six-demon bag!
Jack Burton: Terrific, a six-demon bag. Sensational. What's in it, Egg?
Egg Shen: Wind, fire, all that kind of thing!

**pretre**

We were talking on FB and I think playing up the Rock's strength and size will be pretty amusing.

Rock rolls up on some tiny gang member all confident he's going to kick his ass, gets completely owned.

**Laemos**

This will be witch mountain bad.

**nels1031**

gorgon wrote:
That movie is almost as quotable as Anchorman.

True that.

Like I told my last wife, I said, "Honey, I never drive faster than I can see. Besides it's all in the reflexes."

— Jack Burton

I say that all the time.

**BobtheInquisitor**

My brother and I can never play poker without quoting Thunder. (Not going to type it out.)

**Laemos**

Like I told my last wife, I said, "Honey, I never drive faster than I can see. Besides it's all in the reflexes."

— Jack Burton

I say that all the time.

that line is funny because he is driving at night in the rain with sunglasses on.