“The Punisher” actor Jon Bernthal is set to take over the famous male escort character of Julian Kaye, originally played by Richard Gere in director Paul Schrader’s 1980 thriller film “American Gigolo,” in a new Showtime series of the same name.
The events of the series will take place in the present day as Julian tries to figure out why he was framed for murder after serving 15 years in jail.
One of the people, who won’t be watching the series, is the director of the original film, Paul Schrader, who recently took to Facebook and wrote, “After the Showtime trailer appeared online I’ve been asked if I am involved. The answser (sic) is No.”
“Some years ago I received a call from Paramount asking about remaking ‘American Gigolo’ as a series,” he wrote. “I replied that I thought it was a terrible idea–times had changed, internet porn had redefined male sex work, viruses, etc. I couldn’t imagine Julian Kay working a Hen Party. (Scorsese and I had fought off similar attempts to redo ‘Taxi Driver’ for years.) I thought that was the end of it.”
“Then came another call saying Jerry Bruckheimer and Paramount had the rights to redo AG without my consent. I said I would think about how such a show could be structured,” he wrote. “No, the caller explained, they did not want my involvement. Here were my options: (1) take $50G and not be involved (2) take $0 and not be involved (3) threaten an expensive and futile lawsuit and not be involved. I took the $50G.”
The upcoming series also stars Gretchen Mol as Julian’s former lover, Rosie O’Donnel as Detective Sunday, Lizzie Brocheré as Isabelle, Gabriel LaBelle as Johnny, a younger version of Julian; Leland Orser as billionaire Richard Stratton, and Wayne Brady as Julian’s closest friend Lorenzo.
“I haven’t seen the trailer. I’m a great fan of John Bernthal and wish Gretchen Mol the best,” he wrote. “I don’t plan to watch the Showtime series. I don’t think I could be objective about it and, even if I could, it’s too much agita.”
Schrader is currently filming his next directorial venture “Master Gardener,” featuring Joel Edgerton and Sigourney Weaver.
