I’ve been wondering for several years if Warren Beatty would ever make another movie, whether it be as a writer, director or actor. As content as he seemed with retirement, he also recently said this:
“I always think of making a movie like vomiting. I don’t like to vomit, but I get to a point sometimes where I think, ‘Okay, I better go ahead and do this and I’ll feel better.’ When I finally get around to making a movie, that is why. ‘I’ll feel better if I make this movie,’ rather than ‘Oh, God… every day I gotta do this!'”
Now, for the second time this month, we’ve seen evidence that the legend has finally gotten back to work. Deadline‘s Mike Fleming broke the news yesterday that Beatty has made a deal with Paramount Pictures to write, direct, produce and star in an untitled comedy. Paramount CEO Brad Grey calls the script “quintessential Beatty, elegantly written and wonderfully entertaining,” but what exactly does that mean? And is it a good thing?
This came to me as a surprise, but of the five films Beatty has actually written, most of them could be classified as a “comedies.” I’ve always seen Beatty as more of a dramatic artist since his most memorable work came in films like Bonnie and Clyde, Reds and Bugsy.
Even still, his comedy tends to work more in satire than in the broad comedic strokes that usually light up the box-office so I’m interested to see how Beatty’s script will resonate with today’s audiences. Shampoo, Heaven Can Wait and Bulworth are undeniably charming films, but they’re all products of their own era that I don’t think anyone could call “timeless.” I suppose that also means Beatty has had no problem staying current over the course of his long career. Bulworth (his last directorial effort) was certainly timely and relevant at the point of its 1998 release, just as Shampoo works as a time capsule to the ’70s.
Moving along, Ain’t it Cool News reported from the Hero Complex Festival earlier this month, where Beatty appeared for a Q&A session after a screening of Dick Tracy. Among the highlights were Beatty replying “I’m gonna make another one,” when asked about the long-gestating Dick Tracy sequel. Back in March, Beatty won a lawsuit that kept the movie and TV rights for the comic-strip detective in his hands. He also said a Dick Tracy Blu-ray is in the works.
I take all of this with a grain of salt as I don’t think he has the purest of intentions. To me, it feels like this Beatty/Tracy thing has become one of those unhealthy “I don’t want you, but I don’t want anyone else to have you” relationships. Honestly, I’d be absolutely shocked if we saw another Dick Tracy movie. Beatty (74) is far too old for the part and probably too vain to sit behind the camera while another actor takes over the role.
I’m just glad that another Beatty film is now imminent, if for no other reason than Town & Country would no longer be his swan song. No plot details have been revealed for his untitled comedy, but casting is now underway with production set to begin later this year. I’m sure something will filter out soon enough and we’ll be sure to keep you updated once it does.
