If given a chance to revisit and recreate the 1998 hit romantic comedy ‘There’s Something About Mary,’ veteran filmmaker Peter Farrelly has revealed one significant change he would make. He recently discussed this during an interview with SlashFilm, revealing lessons learned and insights gained that have shaped his perspective since then.
Key Takeaways:
- Director Peter Farrelly would cast an actor with an intellectual disability if he were to remake ‘There’s Something About Mary.’
- Farrelly stressed the importance of providing opportunities for disabled actors.
- Despite some fears of offending audiences with comedy, Farrelly advocates for taking big comedic risks.
- Farrelly is determined not to be limited by pleasing everyone while making movies.
Recasting of Warren’s Role
Farrelly would have cast an actor with an intellectual disability to play the role of Warren, the intellectually disabled brother of Cameron Diaz’s character, Mary. “What I would do differently, I would have had, the brother Warren, I would have used an actor with an intellectual disability instead of another actor,” Farrelly shared.
In the original movie, Warren was portrayed by W. Earl Brown, known for his roles in ‘Scream’ and ‘Deadwood.’ Representatives for Brown did not respond to a request for comment about Farrelly’s remarks.
Farrelly expressed regret for not capitalizing on the opportunity to cast an actor with intellectual disabilities. “Even though the actor in it was incredible, there’s too many actors out there with intellectual disabilities who don’t get those opportunities,” he said.
Taking Risks in Comedy
Despite some fears and apprehensions about offending audiences, Farrelly emphasized the importance of being audacious with comedy. Filmmakers, he believes, should be bold and not shrink back due to apprehensions that humor might be misunderstood. Farrelly shared, “People are afraid to offend. But you gotta remember, you’re always going to offend somebody, and if you don’t, it’s gonna be mush, you know?”
Peter Farrelly and his brother, Bobby Farrelly, have jointly directed a string of successful movies together. These include prominent films like 2011’s ‘Hall Pass,’ 2003’s ‘Stuck on You,’ 2000’s ‘Me, Myself & Irene,’ and 2005’s ‘Fever Pitch.’
Navigating Modern Film Making
Despite potential perceived challenges of making comedies with big studios today in comparison with the 1990s, Farrelly sees no significant difference. Talking about a recent project with Amazon MGM Studios, Farrelly explained that they did not hold him back and even allowed him to cut a few things he thought were too broad.
Instead of worrying about pleasing everyone, Farrelly is determined to stick to unique original ideas. “Nobody’s seen this movie. It’s its own thing, and then we just let it happen and not worry about pleasing everybody. That’s the key thing,” he said referring to his latest project.
Peter Farrelly’s candid insights provide a glimpse into his growth as a filmmaker over the years. His commitment to creating inclusive cinema, taking risks in comedy and maintaining originality help to cement his influential role in the film industry. His perspective serves as a reminder that growth, change, and continuous learning are vital components of the creative process.
Pushing the boundaries of conventional filmmaking, Farrelly’s approach encourages aspiring filmmakers to stay true to their creative instincts and not shy away from sharing unique narratives, while also emphasizing the importance of creating inclusive spaces in cinema. Only time will tell how these insights continue to shape his future films and hopefully inspire others in the industry.
