For all the Sylvester Stallone fans, his early ’90s classic Cliffhanger is getting a remake, with some major changes. The original released in 1993 and directed by Renny Harlin, stars Stallone as an expert climber who is, hired to help rescue a band of violent criminals (unbeknownst to him) after their loot is accidentally lost in the Rocky Mountains. Praised for its simple but effective thrills, Cliffhanger was something of a departure for Stallone, who was still very much in his blockbuster era in the early 1990s.The movie was a box office hit and grossed an impressive $250 million.
Now, Cliffhanger is in the making with a sequel, however it is not following on with the same cast, so for those that were hoping to see Sly in the sequel, he’s now out with no reason for his exit being reported – Pierce Brosnan and Lily James are in, assuming the lead roles,while still maintaining the original planned plot of the movie. It was previously reported that Ric Roman Waugh would helm the sequel, but he’s out as well, with Jaume Collet-Serra directing the sequel, and get this!, the screenplay by Mark Bianculli has also been tossed aside in favor of a new story by Ana Lily Amirpour – all, in all, a landslide of changes. The cast includes Nell Tiger Free, Franz Rogowski, Shubham Saraf, Assaad Bouab, Suzy Bemba and Bruno Gouery.
The storyline is based on a story by Ana Lily Amirpour and is being described as a father-daughter take on “Die Hard.” Brosnan will play a seasoned mountaineer Ray Cooper, who operates a luxury chalet in the Dolomites with daughter Sydney. During a weekend trip with a billionaire’s son, they are targeted by a gang of kidnappers. Ray’s daughter Naomi (James), still haunted by a past climbing accident, witnesses the attack and escapes. To save her family, she must confront her fears and fight for survival.
I suppose the big question here is, will the fans be eager to see the remake without the much adored Stallone, taking into account that what made the original such an endearing action classic was the star power of Sly that will always be associated with Cliffhanger.
I guess, not calling it a sequel may not be such a bad idea, in a bid to allay expectations from fans who have been waiting for more than 30 years for a follow up. It’s hard to imagine a Cliffhanger sequel without Sylvester Stallone, and his absence casts a shadow over the success of this upcoming release.
However, Brosnan’s involvement brings a new dynamic and the fresh creative team could offer an interesting new perspective on the Cliffhanger concept.
