Buscemi, Turturro, Tucci Direct 'Van Gogh Remake' Films

Variety reports that three theatre veterans - Steve Buscemi, John Turturro and Stanley Tucci - are directing films as part of the "Theo Van Gogh remake trilogy," in which three films by the controversial Dutch filmmaker will receive new English-language reimaginings.

Van Gogh, an eponymous descendant of legendary painter Vincent Van Gogh's brother, was murdered in 2004 by a terrorist after making a short film about violence against Muslim women.  The first remake, Interview, stars Buscemi and Sienna Miller.  It was first seen at Sundance and, as presented by Sony Pictures Classics, will open in limited release on July 13th.  Buscemi also directs.

Tucci directs the second remake, entitled Blind Date, in which he stars with Patricia Clarkson. The film is about "a couple who have lost a child and try to rebuild their relationship by pretending to be other people meeting on blind dates."  It starts shooting in Belgium on May 28th.

Turturro will helm the third film, 1-900, which is about "two lonely souls who meet through a sex chat line."  A remake of Van Gogh's 1994 film, it was originally to have been directed by Bob Balaban when the remake project was announced a few years ago.

Buscemi has appeared Off-Broadway in The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ai, and is also an associate member of the experiental theatre company The Wooster Group. Tucci received a Tony nomination for his work in Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, and has also been seen on Broadway in Execution of Justice, The Iceman Cometh, Brighton Beach Memoirs, The Misanthrope and The Queen and the Rebels. Turturro is a Drama Desk-nominee for Soul of Naples, and has been seen on Broadway in Life (x) 3.  Off-Broadway credits include A Spanish Play (which he directed), The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ai and Danny and the Deep Blue Sea.   All three are acclaimed film and television actors.

Photo of John Turturro by Retna Ltd.