Sarkissian’s name all over ‘Tapes’

‘Rush Hour 3’ producer to remake Lumet film

Variety.com
July 31, 2007

By MICHAEL FLEMING

"Rush Hour 3" producer Arthur Sarkissian has optioned Lawrence Sanders
novel "The Anderson Tapes," previously made by Sidney Lumet into a 1971
film starring Sean Connery, with plans to hatch a new version.

He’s also optioned the book "Everybody Eats There: Inside the World’s
Legendary Restaurants," by William Stadiem and Mara Gibbs, with the
intent of crafting a comedy from the culinary travelogue’s chapter about
the world’s pickiest eater.

Sarkissian used his own coin to option the titles and will also
self-finance the development. Sarkissian said he prefers the freedom
afforded him by using his own money, as he did with "The Red Circle," a
remake of the Jean-Pierre Melville crime drama "Le Cercle Rouge," which
Johnnie To is set to direct. StudioCanal has come aboard to finance that
pic, which begins production in October.

Original "Anderson Tapes" film starred Connery as an ex-con in New York
who doesn’t know he’s under surveillance as he tries to rip off a
high-rise apartment building. Sarkissian said the new version will be
set in Miami.

"Surveillance has changed and gotten more interesting, and the story is
just as topical as it was then," Sarkissian said.

For "Everybody Eats There," Sarkissian aims to indulge his passion and
knowledge of haute cuisine with a comedy that will unfold in posh
European eateries.

"The idea is (for the movie to revolve around) a world class traveler,
who has a lot of influence and is notorious for sending back everything,
like the oysters at Le Cirque," Sarkissian said. "The top chefs conspire
to get rid of this guy who’s giving everyone a bad name."

Sarkissian’s "Rush Hour 3" opens Aug. 10.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress