Netflix’sThe Hunchback of Notre Damemovie, titledQuasimodo, has reportedly found its Quasimodo and will begin filming this summer.The Hunchback of Notre Dameis originally the 19th-century gothic novel by Victor Hugo (also the author ofLes Misérables) about a bell-ringer at the famous at Paris’ famous Notre Dame cathedral who falls in love with the Roma dancer Emserelda. Today, the most well-known adaptation is arguably the animated version by Disney, which significantly changed the story from the source material to be presented to the typical family-inclusive audience.
While Disney previously had plans for its ownHunchback of Notre Damelive-action remake, which would presumably be based on the studio’s own movie,Netflix is working onQuasimodoand has just announced that Vincent Cassel will be taking on the lead role(viaDeadline). Cassel will thus be collaborating with Jean-Francois Richet as the director and Eric Besnard as the screenwriter. Check outQuasimodo’s logline below:
Set in Paris on the eve of the July Revolution (1830), this film reimagines the life of the man said to have inspired Victor Hugo’s iconic character, Quasimodo. As the cholera epidemic spreads through the city, he’s caught between political turmoil and an impossible love.
What Vincent Cassel Being Cast Means For Netflix’s Hunchback Of Notre Dame Movie
Netflix Is Gearing Up For Another Prestige Picture
Vincent Cassel is an established name in the industry from several prestige dramas, andhis casting in thisHunchback of Notre Damereimagining proves again that Netflix can easily attract A-listers to be a part of its most ambitious projects.He is known for his roles inLa HaineandBlack Swan, and, through the latter, has experience with a reinvention of a classic story. His involvement lends credibility to this movie early on, while his fame will help to start generating audience interest.
Our Take On Vincent Cassel & Netflix’s Quasimodo
This Will Be A Fresh Movie Amid All The Disney Remakes
Disney is leading the live-action remake market, but many of their movies are too similar to the original, only piling on new plot points in an effort to turn it into a fresh take. However, the results generally come across as empty attempts at more meaningful themes. The best-reviewed live-action remakes from Disney includeCinderellaandMaleficentbecause they take the bones of the story Disney made famous but are otherwise new adaptations of a classic fairy tale. That is to say,this overdone trend is why a movie likeQuasimodocaptures my attention.
Netflixisn’t bound by Disney’s family-friendly brand, nor does it need to have any particular loyalty to a previous version of the story (making an adaptation of the Disney movie would be intellectual theft). I generally think this will be worth watching, far down the line, and Vincent Cassel will make for a compelling lead. The combination of people’s familiarity withThe Hunchback of Notre Dameand Cassel will winQuasimodosome attention — but from there, they can tell a potentially darker and more accurate story.
