Jack Nicholson could have unofficially retired from appearing in 2010, however his legacy lives on because of his many basic movies. Who can neglect his efficiency in The Shining, or Chinatown, or Straightforward Rider, or one of many greater than 50 different motion pictures he is been in? The person’s a real legend. Now, it seems as if one in every of his Academy Award-winning classics could be coming to the small display in a brand new model that may differ considerably from the big-screen adaptation.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is within the very early levels of being developed for tv by producer Paul Zaentz, who’s the son of one of many film’s unique producers, Saul Zaentz. He was available on the 59th Karlovy Range Worldwide Movie Pageant within the Czech Republic, screening a newly restored copy of the 1975 Nicholson drama together with the movie’s different producer, Michael Douglas. Throughout a press convention, it was then that Zaentz revealed {that a} TV adaptation of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest was within the works, explaining that it would not be a remake of director Miloš Forman’s film, however somewhat a extra devoted adaptation of Ken Kesey’s 1962 novel:
“Over the past 50 years, there have been a whole lot of calls from studios, administrators, and producers who need to remake the film, and we might by no means enable it to be remade in the event that they have been simply going to do it as Miloš made it. It might be a dishonor. We simply made an association with Ken Kesey’s household to probably do a tv collection, nevertheless it’s primarily based on the e book, and the e book was informed by the eyes of Chief Bromden, so the tv collection could be by his eyes.”
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Revealed on February 1, 1962, Kesey’s novel was narrated by Bromden, the hulking, half-Native American who presents himself as deaf, mute, and docile. Portrayed by the late Will Sampson, he was decreased to a secondary character within the film, which misplaced numerous Kesey’s themes in translation. Nicholson’s Randle McMurphy was entrance and heart in Forman’s adaptation as an alternative, which has gone on to be considered a basic right this moment, and never solely received Finest Image, however earned Nicolson his first Academy Award for Finest Actor.
Can a TV Adaptation of ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ Work?
As many lately bemoan Hollywood’s affinity for sequels, remakes, and reboots, the query now turns into: Can a small-screen model of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest actually work? Effectively, that relies upon. Zaentz famous in that very same press convention what the story arc for the collection could be, saying that “on the finish of the primary season, R.P. McMurphy, the Jack Nicholson character, would die, after which the second yr could be what occurs to the Chief after he escapes.”
Followers will certainly do not forget that it was Bromden who smothered McMurphy to loss of life after his buddy was lobotomized, after which promptly escaped after ripping a hydrotherapy fountain off its base and chucking it by the window. That is the identical ending as Kesey’s novel, so there’s not a lot distinction there. It is how we get there on this new model that issues, and what occurs after that provides us pause for concern.
We’re all for telling the story by the Chief’s eyes because the novel meant, however increasing it to fictionalize what comes after? That is a giant gamble. Within the fingers of a much less skilled creator, issues might go horribly flawed as soon as they attempt to give you what occurred to Bromden after he escaped, and seeing how no writers, studios, or networks have even been talked about to this point, it is simply too early to gauge how issues will go. Sure, we’re nervous, however there’s additionally the potential to inform a very highly effective story that would spotlight themes of psychological well being, dignity, management, and conformity. One factor we undoubtedly know is that they need to hold Ryan Murphy as far-off from the mission as doable.
As we await extra information on the One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest TV adaptation, you’ll be able to at the moment lease or buy the unique 1975 Nicholson favourite on all VOD platforms.
Supply: The Hollywood Reporter