Gender-swapped remakes seem to be en vogue these days, with aSplashremake being set up this week starringChanning Tatumas the mer-man, andJillian Bellas the female lead for Disney. Today we have word that another gender-swapped remake is coming together, with MGM attachingRebel Wilsonto star in a remake of the 1988 classicDirty Rotten Scoundrels. As of now, the actress is the first cast member to come aboard, with no director in place at this time.
Varietyreports that this story will be updated for the 21st Century, following two femalecon artists, one who is utterly low-brow while the other is quite sophisticated, who try to hustle a “naive tech prodigy” out of his hard-earned fortune. The 1988 movie which starredSteve MartinandMichael Caine, was actually a remake of the script for the 1964Marlon BrandomovieBedtime Story. The screenplay for this remake was written byJac Schaeffer(TiMER).
We first reported on thiscomedy remakeway back in 2008, whenSteve Pink(Hot Tub Time Machine) came aboard to write and direct, but it never got off the ground.Roger Birnbaumwill produce alongsideRebel Wilson, who is also attached to star in another remake of a 1980s classic. Back in 2014, the actress signed on for the lead role in a remake ofPrivate Benjamin, which originally starredGoldie Hawn, but we haven’t had any updates on that project since then.
Since no director is on board, it isn’t known when production may begin on this new movie.Rebel Wilsonmost recently starred inHow to Be SingleandThe Brothers Grimsby. She will also reprise her role as Fat Amy inPitch Perfect 3, which has been set for release on June 24, 2025. Shortly after the release date was pushed from July 2017 to December 2017, directorElizabeth Banksstepped away from the director’s chair, but she is still on board as a producer.
It isn’t known if writerJac Schaeffer, who also wroteAnne Hathaway’s upcoming comedyThe Shower, will write roles for original starsSteve MartinandMichael Cainefor this reboot. It’s certainly possible, especially after several of the originalGhostbustersstars came back for cameo appearances in Sony’s gender-swapped reboot, which starsKristen Wiig,Melissa McCarthy,Kate McKinnonandLeslie Jones. We’ll be sure to keep you posted with more updates onDirty Rotten Scoundrelsas soon as more information comes through.
