Movie Execs Were Begged To Not Remake Iconic Easy Rider

We are living through the era of the sequel, reboot, or remake in the film and television realm. And as said era continues to unfold with the full backing of major studios and streamers, it's becoming increasingly clear that almost no property from Hollywood's past or present is considered sacred.

That sad fact was perhaps never more clear than in the recent Variety report that producers have green-lit a modern remake of 1969's iconic road movie, "Easy Rider." The original film — which follows a pair of bikers (Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda) who search for the American dream on a drug-fueled, cross-country road trip — is widely considered one of the greatest films ever made (per American Film Institute). The film is also arguably the most important anti-establishment movie of all time. Given its enduring legacy and the continued resonance of its messaging even decades after it was released, it's easy enough to argue a remake of "Easy Rider" is hardly necessary.

The remake is, however, in the early stages of production, with producers Maurice Fadida and Eric B. Fleischman guiding the action behind the scenes. And yes, that duo is painfully aware of the problematic optics that come with remaking a bonafide cinematic classic. Fadida recently even admitted some fans of 1969's "Easy Rider" actually begged him not to remake the iconic original. 

The original "Easy Rider" is one of those rare films that continues to inspire audiences more than 50 years after it first hit theaters. Considering that, it's hardly surprising Maurice Fadida and Eric Fleischman have seen a bit of blowback regarding their remake "Easy Rider" reboot plans. During an interview with IndieWire, Fadida confirmed the pushback, saying, "Somebody wrote me an email that says, 'for the love of God, don't make this movie.'"

That plea has fallen on deaf ears, however, with Fadid and Fleischman moving full steam ahead to get their remake before cameras, even as they've yet to find a writer or director. For his part, Fleischman remains thrilled that people are still so protective of the original, telling IndieWire, "It's exciting to us that people care about it, and they don't want it to be ruined and they don't want to taint that name."

He went on to add the intent of the remake is to pay loving homage to the original while forging a new tale that resonates just as much for today's youth. "We want to create something that at the end of the day a younger generation can say, 'This is my anthem.' Fleischman said, adding, "The same way it was for people in their 20s and 30s and their teens when they saw it in 1969." While Fleischman and Fadida are aware of how tricky that will be, the duo clearly remains more excited by the challenge than apprehensive about it.