Film director, screenwriter, and producer,Roland Emmerich, is working on ahighly controversial remake as he plans to bring the multi-Oscar-winningLawrence of Arabiaback to screens. Known as “The master of disaster”, Emmerich has directed several major blockbuster films, including 1996’s smash hit,Independence Day,starring Will Smith, 2004’sThe Day After Tomorrow, and 2009’s2012.In partnership with writer, Anthony McCarten, known forBohemian Rhapsody, the twoare shopping around a three-season television series titledIn Arabia(viaTHR). The new series will feature even more characters than in the already epic film. The pitch of a television show is intriguing, as the additional runtime could benefit the expansive story by giving the complex political setting and enigmatic characters more time to be explored.
Lawrence of Arabia
Directed by David Lean,Lawrence of Arabia,starring Peter O’Toole,premiered in 1962. The 4-hour-long epic isconsidered a cinematic masterpiece. The film was nominated for 10 Oscars and won seven. The landmark classic tells the story of a British intelligence officer, T.E. Lawrence (Peter O’Toole), stationed in Cairo and Greater Syria during World War I, and how he helped the Arab tribes revolt against the Ottoman Empire. Praised for its epic cinematography, sweeping musical score, and gripping adventure tale, the film has inspired filmmakers and audiences for decades. Seminal filmmakerSteven Spielberg previously claimedLawrence of Arabiaas his favorite film and led the film’s restoration initiative. Can Roland Emmerich’s small screen reimagining really live up to such a legacy?
Roland Emmerich’s Last Few Projects Have Faced a Mixed Reception
News of the remake has generated some apprehensive reactions, especially since Roland Emmerich’s last few projects have faced mixed receptions. One of Emmerich’s most well known films is, of course,Independence Day. The last released installment was the 2019 film,Independence Day: Resurgence. Released two decades after the first movie, the sequel received mixed reviews and scored a 30% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film grossed $389,681,935 worldwide at the box office while, in comparison, Independence Daywas the highest-grossing movie of 1996.
Roland Emmerich on His Roman Empire Epic Those About to Die & the Easy Anthony Perkins
Disaster master Roland Emmerich spoke with MovieWeb about the “murderous” production of his Peacock series, Those About to Die.
His 2022 film,Moonfall, also fell short of expectations. Although the movie blended Emmerich’s trademark elements of high-stakes world-ending conflict and impressive visual effects,Moonfallreceived mixed reviews with a 35% critics score but a 75% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. However, with decades of experience,particularly with epic blockbustersand his historical and political dramasThe Patriot,10,000 BC, andMidway,have we all been too quick to dismiss the filmmaker and his vision forIn Arabia?
In other Roland Emmerich-related news, the director recently shared apromising update withIndependence Dayfans, revealing at 2024’s San Diego Comic-Con that he has written a story for another sequel and is “ready to go” whenever Disney orders a new film. Emmerich is also working on another season for his first series, the Gladiator drama,Those About to Die.
