He may be famous for such films as Halloween, Escape From New York and Assault On Precinct 13, but John Carpenter always wanted to make a western. And it seems like he finally might.
“I'm right now working on a little gothic western, we'll see if we can get it set up,” he told the Fright Night Festival in Louisville, Kentucky.
“I got into this business to make westerns. And I got typecast as a horror director after Halloween. My dream was to have a career in directing movies and so I went where they wanted me to go.”
TF salutes Carpenter's attempts to get back on the horse, so to speak, especially as back in 2008 he seemed to have given up on the idea.
“I kind of stopped believing in that. You can’t get a western made now. I had a western come along that I liked, but they wanted to turn it into a science-fiction movie!” he told Den Of Geek with a laugh. “They don’t believe that they can sell a western.”
Source: Fangoria
What would a John Carpenter western be like? Which are your favourite western-style elements from his other movies? Share your thoughts below or we're sending Snake Plissken round!
Comments
JamesAllder
Sep 5th 2011, 3:40
A John Carpenter Western would be made of AWESOME that's what a John Carpenter Western would be like. Nuthin' but Luv for ya, man ! Go Carp ! The Western Lives !
Alert a moderator
Gav83
Sep 5th 2011, 8:22
Is it just me or does John Carpenter look like Paul Whitehouse when he used to dress up as that old drunk guy?
Alert a moderator
Jeffbiscuits
Sep 5th 2011, 8:34
I think he looks like Donovan from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade after he's had a sip from the fake holy grail.
Alert a moderator
FBAHall
Sep 5th 2011, 11:11
john carpenter make red dead redemption movie
Alert a moderator
Hadouken76
Sep 5th 2011, 15:00
I want someone to make a version of James Herberts 'The City'. Hopefully Carpenter or Neil Marshall.
Alert a moderator
Ali1748
Sep 5th 2011, 15:46
When was the last time Carpenter actually made a good movie ?
Alert a moderator
Siban1982
Sep 5th 2011, 16:20
As much as I'm a huge fan of his older work, he hasn't made anything of recent that has been remotely as good as or in the same field as films like The Thing or Escape From New York. I think now is a great time for westerns though and I am intrigued by this. For years people have been saying the western genre is dead but releasing one nowadays seems highly original compared to the c**p we have been getting and the onslaught of remakes after remakes and reboots after reboots. A little part of me hopes to see Kurt Russell there along with him. Now that would bring in the fans :)
Alert a moderator
Hadouken76
Sep 5th 2011, 16:33
@Ali748 For me, 1994's In the mouth of madness, it has a nice sense of dread all the way through with a nice WTF pay-off. Not looking forward to the The Thing 'prequel', the makers claimed they would use practical effects but also CGI, something of a double-edged sword IMO, plus how can you top Norris ribcage teeth and head spider? Lets see what happens...
Alert a moderator
Frankie88
Sep 5th 2011, 17:49
Vampires always felt like a western to me, maybe a revamp like Raimi did with Evil Deead, wiith proper vampires, not gothic rock band frontmen. Problem is, James Woods made that movie, and don't think there's someone nowadays who can fill in his shoes.
Alert a moderator
murphy
Sep 5th 2011, 18:20
1988
Alert a moderator
murphy
Sep 5th 2011, 19:32
I was replying to Alis comment you giant fu(king d****e,any excuse for you to put up one of your sh!tty lists eh you mongoloid (unt!
Alert a moderator
writerdave87
Sep 5th 2011, 22:58
Oh the irony of dalidab asking someone to explain something in English. He's the most illiterate little moron on these boards...
Alert a moderator
trist808
Sep 6th 2011, 14:25
I think there's been many "Western" elements in quite a few of Carpenter's films, so it doesn't surprise me that he wants to do a full-on film in the genre. In The Mouth Of Madness was probably the last time I enjoyed one of his films, Vampires, Ghosts and this year's The Ward though were flippin' awful in my opinion. He needs to re-discover his style and craft and maybe doing a film in a genre he loves might re-ignite that talent not seen since the late 80's .... yeah around 1988 was his last truly excellent film. As for his comment (aimed I assume at some studio exec types) about "not being able to sell a Western", hopefully he'll take heart from the magnificent True Grit ... see, Westerns can work when done properly :)
Alert a moderator
adamstevenson
Mar 10th 2013, 18:59
Carpenter wanted "Big Trouble In Little China" to be a Western, originally. Even though "The Ward" was a disappointment, I have faith that Carpenter, with a project he's truly passionate about again, can make another great movie.
Alert a moderator