In the last few years, Hollywood has seemingly begun to learn a new, fresh way to approach adapting television shows into features: go the R-rated comedy route. This method worked out supremely well for Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s take on 21 Jump Street, and the same methodology is being applied for the Baywatch movie starring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Zac Efron. Recently, we’ve wondered if this could possibly be the direction for Elizabeth Banks’ upcoming Charlie’s Angels reboot – given a certain need for the film to differentiate itself from the last big screen attempts. Having recently had the chance to speak with the project’s director, we can confirm that there is no rating currently in mind for Charlie’s Angels, but that Banks is open to the idea of taking it in a more adult direction.
It was yesterday afternoon that I had the pleasure of talking with Elizabeth Banks on the phone – the actress cum director currently promoting the home video release of the fantastic Brian Wilson biopic Love & Mercy - and it was while we were discussing her adaptation of the classic television series that I asked about a possible R-rated direction for the reboot. Suggesting that a more curse-word heavy approach isn’t necessarily the concept driving the project, she matter-of-factly explained that discussions are still being had behind the scenes at Sony to determine what’s best for the property. Said Banks,
I mean, honestly I don’t worry about the rating so much. It’s not, it’s definitely not an initial consideration when I’m working on something. I think you have to work with the studio, whoever is putting the movie out, whoever is giving you the money, and understand who the audience for the movie is, and then you make the movie for the audience.
All that being said – and considering movies Elizabeth Banks has done like Zack and Miri Make A Porno and Role Models - I followed up by asking if an R-rating for Charlie’s Angels would be something that she would want to see as a direction for the movie. She responded, enthusiastically,
I love that as an actor. It’s personally hard for me to make PG comedy. I am a foul mouthed, dirty-minded [person].
Elizabeth Banks also could neither confirm or deny whether or not she would take one of the three main Charlie’s Angels roles for herself, but my fingers are honestly crossed for that vision of the movie. It would be fantastic to see Banks teamed alongside two other badass and funny ladies to stop criminals, solve crimes and curse it up the whole while through.
Charlie’s Angels is still in the early stages of development without a release date, but Elizabeth Banks can currently be seen in Love & Mercy which is on Blu-ray and DVD now.
