Werner Herzog on Abel Ferrara: ‘Who Is He?’

The announcement of Werner Herzog’s remake of 1992 naked–Harvey Keitel classic Bad Lieutenant definitely qualifies as one of the great WTF? moments in recent film news, especially because Abel Ferrara, director of the original film, seemed as surprised as the rest of us. At Cannes last month, Ferrara offered Herzog and his star, Nicolas Cage, a measured response (“I wish these people die in Hell. I hope they’re all in the same streetcar, and it blows up”), and Vulture is attending tonight’s Museum of the Moving Image conversation between Herzog and Jonathan Demme to hear how Herzog responds. Defamer’s Stu Van Airsdale got a preview yesterday when he asked Herzog how he felt. Herzog’s reaction? “I have no idea who Abel Ferrara is.”

te>I don’t feel like doing an homage to Abel Ferrara because I don’t know what he did — I’ve never seen a film by him. I have no idea who he is. Is he Italian? Is he French? Who is he?

Defamer: Oh, come on.

Maybe I could invite him to act in a movie! Except I don’t know what he looks like.

Right now, steam is whistling out of Abel Ferrara’s ears, Yosemite Sam style.

Defiant Werner Herzog to Defamer: ‘Who is Abel Ferrara?’ [Defamer]
Bad Lieutenant Remake: Abel Ferrara Says, ‘Don’t Count On It.’ [Spoutblog]

Earlier: Nicolas Cage Is a ‘Bad Lieutenant,’ Too