Jerry Bruckheimer has revealed plans for a sequel to Crimson Tide.
It comes 30 years after the submarine thriller debuted in cinemas.
Speaking this week, the 80-year-old Hollywood producer was quoted by Variety saying: “We have a really good director and writer talking to the Navy right now about what’s going on under the water.”
Bruckheimer made the comments during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, where he discussed the legacy of the original 1995 film and his hopes for a follow-up. Crimson Tide, directed by Tony Scott and written by Michael Schiffer, followed a tense stand-off between a commanding officer and his executive officer on a US nuclear submarine.
Denzel Washington, now 69, starred opposite Gene Hackman, who died in February aged 95. Bruckheimer said Denzel may return to reprise his role, depending on the quality of the screenplay.
“If we give him a good script, I think he’d do it,” he said.
A source close to Washington confirmed to Variety any involvement would be script-dependent and no final screenplay currently exists. If Washington does sign on, he will need a new co-star. Hackman’s death earlier this year rules out a return for his character, Captain Frank Ramsey.
Other key figures from the original production, including director Tony Scott and writer Robert Towne, have also passed away.
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Bruckheimer paid tribute to their contributions, saying: “We had Tony Scott, a phenomenal director. We had Quentin Tarantino and Robert Towne, two of the greatest writers and directors, writing on that movie … I don’t know if I’ll ever replicate that kind of writing for a film.”
Although Michael Schiffer was the credited screenwriter for Crimson Tide, the script underwent numerous rewrites during development. At various stages, stars such as Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, Tommy Lee Jones and Brad Pitt were considered for lead roles before Washington and Hackman were cast. Bruckheimer, who appeared on the show to promote F1, starring Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski, is no stranger to long-gestating sequels.
He referenced the 36-year wait between Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick, which he also produced alongside Tom Cruise. And he confirmed a third Top Gun installment is in active development, saying: “I can’t talk about (the story) yet, but it’s a real good one.”
A spokesperson for Disney, the studio behind Crimson Tide, declined to comment on the proposed sequel.
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