Brian De Palma Returns for One Last Film After Career Slump
The legendary director behind Scarface and Mission: Impossible prepares to shoot Sweet Vengeance this summer, potentially ending his career on a redemptive note after years of disappointing releases.
While other New Hollywood legends like Martin Scorsese continue making acclaimed films, Brian De Palma's recent work has disappointed fans and critics alike. His last two decades produced forgettable movies that failed to match his earlier masterpieces. Many assumed his poorly received 2019 film Domino marked the end of his directing career.
That assumption was wrong. De Palma will helm one final project called Sweet Vengeance, beginning production this summer. Plot details remain secret, but early information suggests this crime thriller could restore the filmmaker's reputation.
True Crime Inspiration Fuels New Project
The Scarface director first discussed this movie in 2018, explaining how two real murder cases inspired the story. This true crime angle fits perfectly with De Palma's established style and interests.
"I'm interested in how they tell the story of the crime, so I'll do it the way [they] do on television, based on two real cases," he said.
Production troubles plagued Domino, forcing distributors to skip theaters and release it directly to video-on-demand platforms. Hopefully Sweet Vengeance will avoid similar problems during filming in Portugal.
The Predator Project That Never Happened
Before committing to Sweet Vengeance, De Palma considered directing a different controversial film called The Predator. This project had nothing to do with the alien hunter franchise that Dan Trachtenberg recently revitalized.
Instead, De Palma's Predator would have tackled Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault scandals through a horror movie lens. The story would feature a sexual predator terrorizing the film industry.
"I am writing a film about this scandal, which I am currently discussing with a French producer. My character will not be called Harvey Weinstein. But it will be a horror movie, with a sexual aggressor, and it will happen in the film industry," De Palma explained.
That project never materialized, but Sweet Vengeance offers the Mission: Impossible director another chance to end his career properly.
Final Opportunity for Redemption
Audiences have grown tired of franchise movies and started embracing original stories again. If De Palma delivers a quality thriller, younger viewers might discover why he's considered one of cinema's great artists.
Casting announcements should arrive soon as the summer production date approaches. Sweet Vengeance doesn't have a release date yet, but it represents De Palma's last shot at concluding his legendary career with dignity.