This Latino is Playing ‘Scarface’ in New Adaptation
Universal Pictures
Say hello to my little friend, again. If you loved Scarface, the 1983 movie made famous by Al Pacino, then you’re in luck. Danny Ramirez and Tom Culliver are developing a new project based on Scarface, with Ramirez set to star. But don’t expect this to be like the Brian De Palma version. Instead, the new movie will go back to its roots and create an adaptation of the book written by Armitage Trail in 1929.
The book–and the movie—were both inspired by the life of infamous Chicago gangster Al Capone, whose nickname was “Scarface.” The De Palma version takes the story to Miami in the 80s, centering it on a Cuban refugee who becomes a hugely successful drug lord.
About the new movie, that is being developed under their Pinstripes production company, Culliver told Deadline, “We’re independently developing it; we have some development financing in place. Obviously, there’s the Pacino legacy of it from the ’80s and then the original 1932 movie, but I think it’s ripe for modernizing, and to have someone like Danny in the lead is really exciting.”
He also spoke about doing a remake just for the sake of it. “I think importantly on the IP thing, we’re not going to engage on something if we don’t have a totally unique, fresh way into it,” explaining, “You’ve got to have a new story to tell within it.”
Meanwhile, Ramirez added, “Scarface, to us, is the one that it’s been a dream role to play, but also to develop it in a way that I understand it. I think in 2025, it’s more relevant now than ever. So that’s where we’re excited to take this on.”
There’s no date set for this project, but if you like mafia movies, get excited. This one sounds like a brand new thing.