The 1970 classic war film Patton is being remade for modern audiences and will star a woman as the titular character, according to insiders. The original film told the story of George S. Patton–the famous WWII general known for his unconventional but brilliant leadership–and earned George C. Scott an Oscar for his portrayal of the character.
Hollywood producer Brian Stevens says the studio has wanted to remake the film for some time but struggled with finding a direction. After meeting in December they decided to switch things up:
“We looked at all the possible takes, and we quickly agreed that an old white man leading this film in 2020 just wasn’t going to work.”
Brian Stevens, Executive Producer for “Patton”
Stevens added that the remake will focus primarily on Patton’s hard-hitting personality, as well as her time fighting in North Africa and Europe during WWII. In addition, she will also confront sexism, sexual harassment, and the gender pay gap in the military.
The character’s biography will otherwise remain unchanged.
A Controversial Take?
Stevens isn’t worried that audiences will take issue with the studio’s approach. “In the end I believe that the message–that women are just as strong and heroic as men–is more important than nitpicking the historical accuracy.”
Other films have taken a similar approach in recent years. 2016’s Ghostbusters featured an all female cast, and 2018’s Ocean’s 8 repeated the formula. Both films, however, were remakes of fictional stories, and not based on historical figures or events.
Regardless, Stevens believes it’s time to make the change. “No matter what you do someone will be unhappy. So we might as well do it right.”
Insiders say Brie Larson and Gwendoline Christie are frontrunners for the role.
Stevens provided a copy of studio’s upcoming statement:
Audiences will soon meet an old hero for a modern age with "Patton", the story of a fearless female general who tells it like it is, even if it gets her in trouble now and then. We could not be more excited to bring this bold reimagining to the big screen. The spirit of heroism, not gender, encapsulates who Patton was. And let's face it, it's going to be a whole lot of fun watching a woman kick some Nazi butt!
Look for Patton in theaters sometime in 2022.
