This isn’t exactly Cool Hand Luke, but it still feels awfully soon after the death of a legend like Paul Newman to be remaking anything he starred in. It’s also terrible folly to think that redoing this particular Newman movie is okay because it was just a zany comedy and fans won’t hold you accountable for any injustice levied at his character, Reggie Dunlop, the washed-up player coach of a minor league hockey team back in the game’s helmet-optional days (check him out in the clip below from the 1977 original). Today’s news that Peter Steinfeld (21, Be Cool) is penning the script and Dean Parisot (Galaxy Quest, Fun With Dick and Jane) is directing does little to quell my fears, though it also means the project is growing ever closer to becoming a reality. I initially thought about suggesting some casting options, but after spending a few minutes struggling to come up with actors I think can fill Paul Newman’s shoes I realized that’s because no one can fill Paul Newman’s shoes. And you can’t come up with actors to play the miscreant Hanson Brothers, because the miscreant Carlson Brothers weren’t acting when they portrayed them in the original. Maybe the best bet is to just call up Stephen Baldwin and Gary Busey and have them reprise their roles from the direct-to-DVD Slap Shot 2.
Anyone out there the least bit psyched for a Slap Shot remake and wanna take a crack at casting suggestions? Is there such a thing as a movie too sacred for remake, and if so, is Slap Shot among them?
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Ties for worst remake idea ever with “Psycho” remake. It’s great the way it is. They will only stink it up. Are there no original ideas anymore?
Remaking this is a bad idea.
Great flick, fun movie, but not off limits to a remake. On par with The Bad News Bears or The Longest Yard. We’ll always prefer the original, but…
Worst idea ever … Paul Newman made this movie. I cannot think of any other actor that would really think they could make something out of the character even close to what PLN did. Would only make them look second rate.
Completely idiotic idea. The executive who came up with this idea should be fired….out of a cannon.
This movie is just such a classic!! One of my favorites for sure….please don’t remake it!!
Slap Shot is sacred. The best hockey movie ever made, but also one of Paul Newman’s most fun-to-watch roles. Don’t remake it. There are too many good hockey stories that haven’t been told yet.
2 words – Will Ferrell !!!!!!!!
I know remakes usually pen awful ventures, however done just right the new slapshot can be my generations version, just as funny/slapstick as the original which I hold dear. I am only 28 but the original will always be a top 5 movie with me and as long as the hacks that did slapshot 2 dont touch it I have no problems. Not too many people know that Paul Newman and Will Ferrell were close friends and both enjoyed sport comedies. I think Will Ferrell as Reggie dunlop would be great may Matt damon as Micheal ontkean character. I think Jack black Mike Meyers and I dont know about the other brother would be great
Man, I hate Hollywood. Movies should only be remade if they are outdated. Slapshot still holds up entirely. I almost threw up when I heard they were remaking Karate kid with Will Smith’s son.
Right now Will Ferrell is kicking himself for saying he was taking a break from sports movies. This is exactly the kind of thing he’d do.
This remake sounds like a terrible idea- but still not as bad as the new “Karate Kid” with Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan.
I’d bet my life savings that there are more laughs in that two-minute, seven-second clip of the original “Slap Shot” than will be found in the remake’s entire bloated running time.
Hollywood just doesn’t seem to get it — not only do we prefer fresh ideas to umpteen sequels and remakes (especially when they are completely unnecessary, such as the case is here), but sometimes we like going to movies with a cast full of unknowns and upstarts, so that we can discover new talent for the first time instead of the same friggin’ handful of comedy stars we’re already oversaturated with. (You guys actually want another sports-themed Will Ferrell movie? What are you, masochists?)
One last point: when “Slap Shot” came out in 1977, many were shocked by the incessant cursing, politically incorrect characters and glorification of violence, and therefore it was all part of the fun. So how fun is a remake going to be in 2009, when all of those things are old hat? Stick with the original.
Pointless. They might as well try to remake Freebie & The Bean. Both movies are so un-PC that they would be pale, limp comparisons to the originals. Don’t bother.
As a Canadian, just let me point out that, with hockey basically religion here, “Slapshot” is like first communion for us. It’s a right of passage while growing up to see this movie an be appropriately awed. You Americans may think it impossible to make us polite Canadians riot in the streets, but remaking this movie just might do it.
NO – NO and NO!