UPDATED: Scorsese, De Niro, and Von Trier on a TAXI DRIVER Remake? What?

Update: According to ScreenDaily, von Trier’s business partner, Peter Aalbaek Jensen has completely denied this report claiming “I have seen it [the story] in the Danish film magazine and what is written there is not true.” Jensen says the directors met at the Berlin Film Festival, but any idea of them remaking TAXI DRIVER together is complete “rubbish.”

To be perfectly honest, this news doesn’t shock and awe me like it might some.  In fact, after Werner Herzog announced all the way back in May of 2008 that he would be doing a pseudo-remake of BAD LIEUTENANT starring Nicolas Cage…well, let’s just say my proclivity for being shocked by any movie-related news has fallen a few levels since then.

So, when the rumors begin (and, make no mistake, these are absolutely and justly deemed as RUMORS) that Martin Scorsese and Lars von Trier will be teaming up to remake TAXI DRIVER, I meet them with a shrug and a nod, wondering if and when the project will actually see the light of day.  Saying Robert De Niro would be reprising his role as Travis Bickle doesn’t add any amount of shock to it, either.

It’s hard to track back to the original source of the rumor, but, as far as I can tell, a Copenhagen film magazine, Ekko, is the initial source, and other sites like Earthtimes.org and Hollywood Elsewhere have passed the information on.  The report, evidently, originates from the Berlin Film Festival, where SHUTTER ISLAND is making its premiere.

Initial reactions from von Trier’s producing partner, Peter Aalbek, is “neither confirm nor deny” material.  However, an official announcement is to be made soon.

It’s a wild rumor, and whether all, any, or none of it is true would not surprise me one bit.  This could be a reporter overhearing something that he or she thinks is one thing that turns out to be another.  This could be Scorsese and von Trier spitballing ideas.  It could be 100% accurate.  If there is anything I have learned in my 30 years of following this business, it is that you cannot predict anything.  When an official announcement comes, we will let you know.  In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on this rumor in the comments section below.