As the era of reboots and remakes rages on, one classic 90s erotic thriller is also set for a remake—this time, with a twist.
Released in 1992, Basic Instinct catapulted Sharon Stone, now 67, to global fame thanks to her starring role as Catherine Tramell.
She appeared opposite Michael Douglas as Detective Nick Curran in the first of her many femme fatale characters, its plot following the investigation into Johnny Boz’s (Bill Cable) murder, in which his girlfriend is a suspect.
Things take a steamy turn, however, when the cop falls for Catherine, with the film now hailed as ‘groundbreaking’ for its depictions of sexuality in mainstream cinema.
As well as becoming a cultural phenomenon, it was also a commercial hit, grossing over $350million (£260m) worldwide.
Fast forward 33 years, and Basic Instinct is set to return to the silver screen once more, as the Paul Verhoeven-directed classic is getting an update.
As per Variety, with original screenwriter Joe Eszterhas on board, the reboot will be released with Scott Stuber’s United Artists and Amazon MGM Studios.
Adam Griffin of Vault Entertainment will executive produce, but further details, including a title, are yet to be confirmed, excluding the rumours of the reboot being ‘anti-woke’, leaving fans to wonder if any famous moments will get the chop.
Not everyone is thrilled about the upcoming reboot, with many making it known that they think it’s an ‘unnecessary’ production.
Taking to X, @CCortave24 wrote: ‘Basic Instinct rules & Sharon Stone gives an all-timer performance as Catherine Tramell. Good luck trying to replicate that success because a reboot is unnecessary’.
@UygarNFT branded it a ‘super bad idea’, while @GenesisAcademyX argued: ‘Studios need to realise that not every film needs a remake. It fails 90% of the time. We’re making original stories with soul and a 70’s feel. People want to see painterly classics, not Hollywood remakes.’
‘Some things cannot replicated’, declared @rowenmatthee, with @_MyNameIsAdam_ adding: ‘So dumb. Just give us Basic Instinct 3 and bring Sharon back…’
@NicMye further argued that Stone’s casting is the only thing that made the original ‘watchable’, and @motherquoter suggested that the revival is destined to fail.
‘This didn’t work with Fatal Attraction and it didn’t work with Cruel Intentions, so why should it work this time? Maybe greenlight original ideas instead…’, they penned.
Indeed, 1987 romance thriller Fatal Attraction, which also starred Douglas as well as Glenn Close, was made into a TV series in 2023 but was cancelled after one season.
Similarly, 1999’s Cruel Intentions, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Reese Witherspoon, was adapted for TV last year on Amazon Prime, but was also cancelled after just one series this spring.
So you could say the odds aren’t in Basic Instinct’s favour, despite social media predicting hugely popular actress Sydney Sweeney for the female lead in its remake.
Basic Instinct already had a sequel, released in 2006 and with Stone reprising her role as crime novelist Catherine, who is in trouble with the law again, this time in London.
Alas, the film flopped spectacularly, making $38.6m (£29m) back from its $70m (£52.1m) budget.
It also received negative reviews, with a shocking score of just 6% on review site Rotten Tomatoes, a stark contrast to the original film’s 56%.
The film also received three nominations at the 2006 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards, and was branded ‘godawful’ and even ‘painful’ viewing by critics.
Speaking previously about her Basic Instinct role, Stone, whose most memorable scene saw her uncross her legs during interrogation to reveal she wasn’t wearing underwear, said she kept the iconic white minidress herself.
She told The Times that, after making a TV film in the 80s, her wardrobe was sold off at discounted prices, leaving her feeling embarrassed by the thought of crew members being able to purchase her lingerie.
‘I thought, “Never again”,’ she said. ‘I had it put into my contracts that I keep all my clothes from films, unless they are studio rentals.’
Stone added: ‘I keep the white minidress from Basic Instinct in a safe but have a ton of shoes from that movie in my closet, like black split-toe Gucci heels and strappy gold-studded ones. The rest of the costumes are in storage.’
The actress has also admitted that she doesn’t believe the film could be made now in the same way, saying in 2019 that Basic Instinct was ‘made at the exact right moment in history because it captured all our fears and doubts and the moment of change of power for women’.
She added to Allure: ‘It’s still an intriguing film, but could it be made now? I doubt that it would have any form of the sensationalism it had at the time.
‘When I began my career, there were only two ways we were allowed to sit: cross at the ankles or ankles under the chair.’
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