Just yesterday I was advocating against the possibility of a Gone Girl sequel. And while I stand by my discouragement of that idea (DON’T DO IT), here’s a project that I’m firmly behind: David Fincher, Gillian Flynn, and Ben Affleck are remaking Strangers On a Train.

Now, we talk a lot of shit in regard to remakes around these parts. But that’s only because most of them are terrible, or at least terrible-sounding. It’s not (always, entirely) just a kneejerk reaction. This, for example, could be very, very cool. After all, this is not the same as Michael Bay remaking The Birds. (Please tell me that’s not still happening, by the way.) Strangers On a Train is the story of two men who meet by chance and end up exchanging murders as a way to make sure their motives and their alibis line up. This team, with this material, could actually do justice to the Hitchcock (or Highsmith, take your pick) original. They’ve proven they can deliver a killer—pun most definitely intended—adaptation, creating and sustaining the necessary tension for the length of an entire movie.

This project, currently titled Strangers, was only announced today, but here’s what we know:

• The whole dream team is onboard. Flynn is writing, Fincher is directing, and Affleck is starring. No word on Trent Reznor, but what else has he got going on?
• Ben Affleck will play the Farley Granger role: the tennis pro whose wife won’t divorce him. The Robert Walker part (then man who wants his father dead) hasn’t been cast, but am I crazy for immediately thinking this would be a perfect Damon/Affleck reunion? Tell me this isn’t the face of a psychopathic murderous playboy.

• Instead of tennis, his character will be a Hollywood star in the middle of an Oscar campaign. (A stretch, I know.)
• These will be strangers on a plane. When Affleck’s private plane breaks down, he’s offered a ride by that wealthy stranger.
• This change will spawn endless variations on a single Snakes on a Plane joke. It’s inevitable. We need to accept it.
• This is looking to be fast-tracked. Affleck is “clearing space” between his various Batmans.

This has the potential to be great, doesn’t it? Sure, we’d all love to see more original movies being done, but if we have to get remakes and reboots and sequels, this is the kind we want to see. Also, Mr. Fincher, if you’re listening— maybe consider shaking things up and gender swapping that Robert Walker role. If you’re looking someone with equal parts sexy and dangerous, may I suggest…

Via Deadline.

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