Paris—“Scarface” director Brian De Palma is to tackle the story of disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, the Hollywood legend told AFP.
The maker of “Carrie” and “The Untouchables” said he was toying with the idea of dealing with Weinstein and the #MeToo movement the Hollywood producer unleashed after claims that he had raped and abused a string of actresses over the years.
“I have been following it very closely because I know a lot of the people involved,” De Palma told AFP in Paris, where he has just published his first novel in French.
“This has inspired an idea for another book,” he added.
“As a director you have to get actors’ confidence and their love to be able to use their instrument in your movie. And to violate it on any level is just to me the worst thing you can do, just because of your gluttony or your lust,” the 77-year-old said.
“I’ve heard stories over the years” about abuse and casting couches, the veteran filmmaker added. “I always reacted very strongly to anybody that was doing such things. And of course, you would hear stories about the most notorious people.”
De Palma said later that he was writing a script based on the scandal, “although my character will not be called Harvey Weinstein.”
“But it is a horror film, with a sexual aggressor, and the story will take place within the film industry,” he told the French daily, the Parisien.
De Palma defended his treatment of women characters in his films, arguing that the violence they faced was necessary for the stories to work.