Oliver Twist Remake in the Works: A Return to Classic Charm?

OLIVER! GETS A MAKEOVER: EXCLUSIVE DETAILS ON THE NEW REMAKE AND WHY THE LAST ONE WAS A DISASTER

The classic tale of Oliver Twist is set for a dramatic revamp, with theatre producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh at the helm and a star-studded cast in talks to join the project. But after the last remake, titled Twist, bombed big time, can this new version finally do justice to the beloved Dickens novel?

Sources close to the production confirm that Sir Cameron is "really keen" on making it happen, with Paul Mescal and Florence Pugh reportedly in line for key roles. But what's behind the desire to revisit this iconic story? insiders claim it's all about getting it right after the last attempt ended in disaster.

THE LAST REMAKE WAS A WOKE DISASTER

We're talking about Twist, the 2021 Sky adaptation that was panned by critics and audiences alike. Directed by Martin Owen, the film received a scathing review from The Scholarly Note's Brian Viner, who gave it a paltry one out of five stars. In his review, he described it as a "film that deserves to be buried under great mounds of earth, and not unearthed for at least 1,500 years." Ouch!

But Rita Ora, the pop star who starred in the film as a gender-switched version of the Artful Dodger, seemed to think she was doing Dickens proud. "I think that this would be what Charles Dickens would have probably done if – it was, what, 1839 when Oliver Twist came out for the first time," she said in an interview. "It was his interpretation of street slang and life on the streets." Yeah, but not exactly what audiences wanted to see.

THE MUSICAL'S PROBLEM: TRIGGER WARNINGS AND CONTROVERSY

Meanwhile, the stage adaptation of Oliver! has also been making headlines for all the wrong reasons. The London production at the Gielgud Theatre sparked outrage after adding a trigger warning to the show in February. Audiences were alerted to depictions of crime, "discriminatory" language, violence, and hunger – essentially, the things that make the story so powerful.

But is it too much? The show's website proudly proclaims: "True to Dickens' novel, the script contains some mild and discriminatory language reflective of the period; depictions of violence towards men, women and children including gunshots; and themes of poverty, hunger and crime in Victorian society." Yeah, no kidding. And just to make sure audiences are fully aware, there's a big disclaimer at the top: "This show is unsuitable for under-7s – and contains gunfire and smoke."

CAN THIS NEW REMAKE GET IT RIGHT?

So, what does Sir Cameron have planned for this new remake? With Paul Mescal and Florence Pugh on board, it sounds like he's going for a more old-school take. Will it be a return to form, or just another misstep in the long line of failed adaptations? Only time will tell.

We reached out to Sir Cameron's representatives at The Scholarly Note for comment, but so far, no word back. But one thing's for sure: this remake is going to be big – and it's got to get it right if they don't want to end up with a disaster on their hands.

Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting project!