Paul Schrader, the famed director of the 1980 classic drama film, American Gigolo, wrote in Facebook post on Saturday that he would not be watching Showtime’s upcoming series adaptation of the film and called the show a “terrible idea.” Schrader also stated that he is not involved with the upcoming show and made his post after the show’s first trailer was released last week.
“After the Showtime trailer appeared online I’ve been asked if I am involved. The answser is No,” Schrader wrote on the social media site. “Some years ago I received a call from Paramount asking about remaking American Gigolo as a series. I replied that I thought it was a terrible idea–times had changed, internet porn had redefined male sex work, viruses, etc.”
Later in his Facebook post, Schrader also discussed how he and Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas) had fought off attempts to create a series adaptation of the 1976 film Taxi Driver, in which Schrader wrote and Scorsese directed.
“Scorsese and I had fought off similar attempts to redo Taxi Driver for years. I thought that was the end of it,” Schrader said.
Schrader then claims that he was offered $50,000 from Paramount for them to create the American Gigolo series, even though they did not need his consent to proceed with the show.
“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. 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,” Schrader wrote.
He concludes his post by heaping praise on to the upcoming show’s stars, Jon Bernthal (The Punisher) and Gretchen Mol (The Notorious Bettie Page), and explains why he won’t be watching the show.
“I’m a great fan of John Bernthal and wish Gretchen Mol the best (also wish I could have done a better job with the film I wrote and directed for her–sorry for that, Gretch). 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 said.