Maybe Emerald Fennell’s ‘Basic Instinct’ Will Be the One Adaptation That Really Works With Her Style
A perfect match?
Joe Eszterhas, the acclaimed screenwriter behind the iconic 1992 erotic thriller Basic Instinct, recently claimed that director Emerald Fennell is currently in negotiations to helm a reboot of the film. However, according to Deadline, this exciting potential pairing seems to have hit a snag, as representatives for Fennell have strongly denied any involvement, stating there is “no truth in this” and that she “is not involved in any way.”
Eszterhas, now 81, seems incredibly enthusiastic about the prospect of Fennell taking the reins for this new project. He told The Guardian that the producers are “negotiating with a really interesting director – a Brit, Emerald Fennell – who did Promising Young Woman and Wuthering Heights.”
He clearly sees her as the perfect choice, adding that her “sensibility is exactly right.” He genuinely believes she’s “someone who is not afraid of controversy and sexuality,” which, if you’ve seen her work, makes a lot of sense. He concluded his thoughts by saying he’s “thrilled by that” and “hope[s] it works out.”
This isn’t just a hopeful whisper from Eszterhas; he’s already deep into the project himself
Last summer, he reportedly locked a deal with Amazon MGM Studios to write the reboot’s script, receiving a reported $2 million for his work. He stands to make another $2 million if and when the film actually gets made, and he insists it will be, citing “great demand for it” and that “it’s trending all the time.”
The screenwriter, known for his provocative style in films like Flashdance, Jagged Edge, and Showgirls, has survived a bout with throat cancer and now lives in Cleveland, Ohio, with his second wife, Naomi. He’s certainly not slowing down or shying away from his signature provocative style for this new iteration. He even jokingly — or perhaps not so jokingly — responded to those questioning an 80-year-old writing an erotic thriller.
He declared that “the rumors of my cinematic impotence are exaggerated and ageist.” He also mentioned a “Twisted Little Man” writing partner who “lives somewhere deep inside me,” and who was “born 29 and he will die 29.” This inner voice, he says, is “sky high up” to write this piece and aims to provide viewers with “a wild and orgasmic ride.” His new story will reportedly juggle copycat serial killers with elements of the supernatural.
The 1992 Basic Instinct was a massive cultural phenomenon
The original Basic Instinct pulled in nearly $353 million worldwide at the box office. It became an incredibly influential piece in the erotic thriller genre, largely infamous for that iconic, NSFW interrogation scene with Hollywood icon Sharon Stone. While it garnered mixed reviews from critics, its impact was undeniable. It also stirred up a huge amount of controversy, sparking pickets from women’s rights and queer organizations.
The National Organisation of Women, for instance, called it “the most blatantly misogynistic film in recent memory.” Eszterhas, however, disputes that claim, but he’s always seemed to relish a good public scrap, feeling that many studio pictures today are “too deodorised, too polite, too scared of causing offence.” He calls this aversion to confrontation a “communication loss” and a “human loss.”
Flash forward to 2006, when Sharon Stone reprised her role for a sequel. However, Eszterhas was not involved in that project, which was directed by Michael Caton-Jones and written by Leora Barish and Henry Bean. That film, unfortunately, was a critical bomb and widely reviled, proving that sometimes, you really do need the original creative vision to make something work.
Interestingly, Stone herself doesn’t seem to be on board with any reboot ideas, at least not with Eszterhas at the helm. Last August, she stated quite bluntly, “There’s not going to be a Basic Instinct reboot.” She didn’t stop there, adding a pretty scathing assessment of Eszterhas’s current writing prowess: “Joe Eszterhas couldn’t write himself out of a Walgreens drug store.”
Despite the official denial from her representatives, the idea of Fennell directing a Basic Instinct reboot just feels like a natural match for her style. She’s coming off incredibly distinctive films like Promising Young Woman, Saltburn, and a maximalist take on Wuthering Heights. This reboot could be the perfect vehicle for her to truly take that next step and deliver something truly boundary-pushing.
Promising Young Woman masterfully weaponized sharp wit and revenge with this candy-coated, almost deceptively innocent visual style. Saltburn dove headfirst into class warfare, laced with grotesque bodily fluids and unapologetic, raw desire. Her version of Wuthering Heights embraced raw passion, anachronistic flair, and heightened emotion, completely ditching restraint.
Fennell’s bold, stylish provocation – blending humor, shock, and sensual excess – could genuinely infuse a reboot with a fresh, dangerous vitality. She has a unique ability to keep the core thrills intact while adding her own distinctive, modern edge. If this deal were to ever close, and if her representatives’ denial were somehow to be superseded, this really could be the adaptation that truly sings in her voice and redefines the erotic thriller for a new generation.
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