Antoine Fuqua has quit the 'Scarface' remake.
Antoine Fuqua
The 51-year-old director was set to helm Universal's reimagining of the iconic gangster film but, according to Variety, Fuqua has left the project to work on 'The Equalizer' sequel.
Sony Pictures are keen to get production started on the action follow-up - starring Denzel Washington - as soon as possible and Fuqua, 51, doesn't have time in his schedule to shoot both projects.
It is understood that Fuqua wanted to direct 'Scarface' - originally released in 1983 and starring Al Pacino has Colombian refugee Tony Montana who becomes Miami's biggest drug lord - and he and his team tried to work a way around scheduling conflict but since he had already invested so much time developing the script for 'The Equalizer 2' it was not possible.
Although Fuqua is no longer attached to the movie, shooting on 'Scarface' is still scheduled to start in the spring and the search for a new director is underway.
'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'' actor Diego Luna is set to take on the lead role of the drug kingpin with the story shifted from Miami to Los Angeles and focusing on a Mexican immigrant instead of a Colombian.
The film is a production by Bluegrass Films and Global Produce, and will see Marc Shmuger, Scott Stuber, and Dylan Clark as its producers, alongside original 'Scarface' producer Marty Bregman.
The most recent draft of the script has been penned by 'Boardwalk Empire' creator Terence Winter who is tasked with reimagining the core immigrant story told in the cult classic.
Tagged in Diego Luna Scott Stuber Antoine Fuqua