The Departed 2 Not Based On Infernal Affairs 2
Posted by John Campeaon 31. 01. 2007in Features
Ok, as most of you know already (because I’ve only mentioned it almost every single time we’ve talked about The Departed), The Departed is based on the sinlge best cop movie I’ve ever seen, an Asian film by the name of Infernal Affairs. I thought they did a terrific job with translating Infernal into the North American context and it SHOULD win best picture this year at the Oscars. Anyway….
A little while ago we reported that Scorsese was planning on doing another Departed film. This made sense since Infernal Affairs has a sequel as well. It’s actually a PREQUEL, and it looks at the history between the crime boss and the police chief (played by Jack Nicholson and Martin Sheen in the North American version), and it’s almost as good as Infernal Affairs 1 (some people even like it more). So obviously with such a rich piece of source material they’re going to base The Departed 2 on infernal Affairs 2 right? RIGHT?!?!?! Nope.
The following is given to us by the good folks over at Moviehole:
The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the claims today, saying that screenwriter William Monahan is working on a follow-up that would bring back the temperamental foul-mouthed cop played by Mark Wahlberg, who received an Oscar nomination for the role, and introduce a new character to be played by none other than Robert De Niro (who was actually up for the role that Martin Sheen ended up playing in the first film). As the trade states, the sequel probably won’t have anything to do with the original HK films on which “The Departed” is based, “Infernal Affairs”, because it’ll be an original story.
STUPID STUPID STUPID. You already have BRILLIANT source material with an AMAZING story sitting there all ready to be adapted, but instead you want to do a different version and focus it on the Mark Wahlberg character??? Are you freaking kidding me?!? This is a stupid idea. Getting De Niro involved is never a bad idea… but it’s not enough to make up for the colossal mistake this would be.
So what do you guys think? Are you as upset by this as much as me? Or do you see some potential upside to this story?
I think I’ll reserve judgment until there’s an actual final draft of the screenplay first. My Lord. Aren’t you the same one that lectured us earlier about the possibility of a better director for The Hobbit than Peter Jackson? Doesn’t that principle apply here as well?
Hey Jason,
There is a massive difference (in my opinion anyway) between tossing out the source material that your whole first project was based on and gave you insane success and is a proven story to base a project on a weakest charcter from the first film…. and just changing director. Big difference. Well… at least to me anyway.
We’re talking about the whole story… vs. just the person directing it.
It might be better this way…the Departed was not as good as Infernal Affairs so a Departed 2 based on IA2 would probably pale in comparison to IA2. If they try something new, no one can compare the two and the sequel will be more original (which is usually a plus).
We’ll have to see.
And I think you should watch IA and IA2 before you start ranting and raving.
Anyone who has seen Infernal Affairs 2 knows beyond any shadow of a doubt that this is what they should base The Departed 2 on. No question. What a bunch of morons, to walk away from such an amazing story.
I agree that The Departed was not nearly as good as Infernal Affairs.
I also agree that if you found success adapting IA, why mess with that success. Just adapt IA2. Stupid move.
Well it could work, the quality of actors in it is enough to raise it above normal standards anyway.
By the way, Heat is the best cop movie ever. :)
Those are good points and I can see what you’re saying, and on a smaller level, I agree with you. But I still think the bigger principle applies here. Why condemn something that hasn’t even been created yet?
There’s still a chance that the sequel could be as good or better than the original IA prequel. And the wisdom of deciding not to base it on the original idea has nothing to do with that potential quality.
I’m just glad there hasn’t been a comic book movie post in a while ;)
hey there Jason,
I see what you’re saying. And I should clarify. I’m NOT saying “This will NEVER NEVER work!”. No, and I’m not saying “This doesn’t stand a chance”. There is a CHANCE this could work just fine…
My point was just that I think it’s a bad decision that has a less likely chance to do well than the alternative.
Cheers!
~John
I love infernal affairs but I didn’t like either of the sequels so I would be fine with the trying something new….
I think it would awful to cast younger actors as a young sheen and nicholson personally. that reeks of carlitos way 2…cheap.
and don’t call it the departed 2 for the love of god…
just give it a whole new name - don’t even refer to it as a sequel…just make it a whole new film about different characters in that universe…wahlbergs character if played the way it was in the departed for an entire film could get old quick though…
actually, i think the reason why they decided to not go with the IA 2 storyline is because in the departed they never had 2 younger actors playing leonardo’s and matt’s characters. the original IA actually had 2 different actors playing those rolls. so they didn’t have the same setup to make a successful IA prequel. just my 2 cents.
I had a tough time determining if I felt The Departed was objectively a weaker movie than IA, or whether it was just tainted by the fact that I had seen, and loved, IA. Either way though, I didn’t enjoy The Departed as much as I had hoped to, even though I think it’s a great flick.
So I really don’t think I’ll mind too much if they don’t use IA2′s story for the sequel. It’ll further distance the two franchises in my mind. I figure that The Departed 2 will be strong because of Scorsese and the stellar cast he’s sure to bring in. AND my enjoyment of IA2 (in all its brilliance) will remain pure and separate.
Another thought: I thought Miami Vice was a solid action movie - not incredible, but decent on its own. But, in my mind, it was cheapened by using the franchise name of the cheesy 80s tv show, when the only thing they really had in common was the use of the names Crockett and Tubbs. It would have been so much credible, in my mind, had they called and marketed it as an original story (notwithstanding the fact that it probably made a lot more money using the Vice name). Likewise, if they make The Departed 2 a decent movie on its own, without whatever credibility IA2 would lend as source material, then more power to them.
I won’t judge this until I see it. You have to give Scorcese & Monaghan (if he’s also involved) the benefit of the doubt. They’ve proven over-and-over again that they know what they’re doing.
“adapting” (better: copying) is never a good idea!
Especially when the copy gets the honors (oscars) - just because of more famous acters..
Hey Townes
Soooo… I guess they never should have made Lord of the Rings huh?
:P
SPOILERS ~if you’re stunted enough to not have seen The Departed yet ~
Not that I agree with their decision either, however, if they do focus on Mark Wahlberg’s character, that does give them a completely blank slate to start writing from instead of screwing with and changing the original storyline, since ‘Infernal Affairs’ has no ‘Mark Wahlberg’ character equivalent.
He was written in, I’m assuming for a bit of Hollywood flair and to spice up the original ending(s) - Both of which ended at the undercover cop’s funeral with one ending allowing “Mr Bad Cop” to see the error of his ways and reforming and the other ending allowing him to get away with everything and continuing - both in a narrative.
I suppose I shouldn’t comment on this because it doesn’t matter if they adapt IA2 or not,for me anyways, I think a sequel to the Departed is insanity, it should be left alone, its a fucking masterpiece.
Nord
I’m actually glad they decide to make something different with the concept. I’ve seen the original movies and the first two movies are great. It always feels a bit strange when good material gets remade just because of a language problem. Now that they rewrite it, I will be able to enjoy a Scorsese without knowing how the film is going end.
The Departed had its flaws. It is certainly not the best movie for me. Certainly not better then Children of Men, who was NOT nominated for best pic. The first 40 minutes were terrific, but it all went downhill from there with an ending that had little drama. But then again, I might be bad public cause I saw the original film long before I saw the Scorsese version.
Anyway, we should encourage those who want to write new scripts, instead of praising those who merely translate stuff into English. If the original script is too good, then people should watch the original version and learn to read subtitles. It might open a whole new scope of enjoying world cinema.
Dave i am with you a little bit there…
by the sounds of it i liked the departed a bit more than you but I agree the ending is not that great…..and I also agree that children of men was a better film and the marketing team really dropped the ball on that film.
children of men will find a huge audience over time and i really do believe it is a modern classic which will be remembered long after pretty much all the films that did get oscar noms are forgotten.
but nord has summed it up best - just leave it the fuck alone.
if they are going to stray away anyway from the original sequel (which I am all in favor of if it goes ahead) why not just make a totally new film with totally new characters….why does it have to be tied to the departed? to make a buck obviously but the problem for me is bad sequels sometimes ruin the original for me…they taint it and bum me out.
sequelitis is quite crazy in hollywood….they have been trying to figure out a gladiator sequel for years and they seriously considered making a film about roses character as a sequel to titanic…obviously common sense got the better of them because if there was ever a film that was fucking sequel proof it was titanic….
John, have you seen Letters from Iwo Jima? I think it’s easily the best film of the nominees (but I also strongly disliked Little Miss Sunshine and The Departed while thinking that Babel is mediocre). So I’d say that Letters is the film that should win best picture. Anyhoo:
I don’t get the idea of even making a sequel. If they did, hopefully Scorsese wouldn’t direct. I’d rather see him film an original story, then make a sequel that chances are won’t be a great film. In order for a film to actualy should have a sequel, it needs to be damn good. Also, the story should warrent one. If it seems just like an add-on to make money, chances are it won’t be very good.
I bet you though, if the Departed doesen’t win Best Picture/no awards at all, this project will fall flat on it’s face. I still hope it won’t happen, even if The Departed sweeps everything.
I think this is a good thing because I really didnt like the sequels to Infernal Affairs. Horrible follow ups in my opinion. I say let the guy take a crack at it. He couldnt do any worse that the asian sequels did.
I, too, think you are doing the same thing that you chastised others for doing in the Hobbit situation.
What did those people do, in essence?
They were of the opinion that a Hobbit movie without Jackson had a less likely chance to do well because Jackson did such a bang up job.
And what did John do?
He berated them for forming the opinion that a Hobbit movie without Jackson at the helm was a stupid idea when they have no evidence other than the fact that Jackson did a good job.
Now, John is of the opinion that a Departed sequel that doesnt adapt from the IA sequel has a less likely chance to do well with no evidence other than how good he thought the asian ones were.
Hmmmm… these two situations seem eerily similar.
I’ll grant you the major difference is that most of those guys said that the Hobbit movie WILL suck without Jackson and John said that a sequel to the Departed that does not adapt from the IA sequel will PROBABLY suck, but the core principle is the same.
Making judgements with no evidence and not keeping an open mind.
They had no evidence that someone else couldnt do as good a job if not better than Jackson and yet they are convinced it will be bad.
John has no evidence that the new script/story will not be as good if not better than the IA 2 script/story and yet he is convinced it will be bad.
But anywho…
Opinions are like a**holes and everyone has one.
No matter how hypocritical they may seem to others.
As for my opinion on the neccessity of a sequel to The Departed…
I’m of the opinion that a sequel is not needed or warranted by the events of the first movie. My opinion stems from how bad I percieved the asian sequels to be. That being said, I am still the eternal optimist. If the writing is good and the performances are once again top notch the I say bring it on. In all actuality, the fact that they are not going to adapt from the asian sequels is the one thing that gives me hope.
But then, this is coming from a guy who thought the Departed was as good if not better than Infernal Affairs, so what do I know?
I must be batshit insane to think that, I know…
Let the geek wrath now reign down upon me.
I see no reason why not to try a new strict… hell a new script doesn’t discount the possibility of redoing IA2 at some other point especially as it’s a sequel. Let them have a chance before bad-mouthing the decision.. Also to all those who thought children of men was a better film, I think it was a better film (although every performance in the departed was amazing).. COM just had arguable the best story of the year and certainly the most intense/being-there-feel war scenes of any film i’ve seen. Not to mention the fact it was just plain brutal. Flag of our fathers got praised for its simple brutality in war, but children of men kills off characters without blinking (departed’s killings felt a little more contrived to me… I mean did they ALL need to die at the end!!)
Anyway, to summarise COM awesome.. Departed, awesome acting/directing and a solid script (although weak end).. Departed 2 .. who the hell knows, the scripts not written yet. Don’t write it off for being different to IA2!
scorsese will win director i think - surely this time but mark my words babel will take best picture….i have this horrible feeling that it is going to take it. totally undeserved but when has that stopped the oscars a-crash-hem
lotr is based on a book.
departed isn’t based on a book but a movie, thats what im complaining about!
even this is not the point-
i dont have anything against good remakes..
but departed is just a “hollywood” remake with more famous acters and the same camera shots! :P
I’m pretty sure Scorsese still hasn’t seen INFERNAL AFFAIRS…
the departed shouldnt win because its a cheap copy of internal affairs, since when can re-makes win orcars? i hope the director doesnt win and this one is yet another nail in his coffin
They are going to make 3 Departed Movies, the third movie is going to be internal affairs 2. Why put out the prequel before the sequel?? You are all morons. You did not see star wars put episode 1 2 and 3 out in the middle of the first 3, and the hobbit certainly did not come out after the fellowship.
I say who cares. Mark Wahlberg’s character is the only one left, why not make The Departed 2 around him?
I enjoyed The Departed until the last 30 minutes…good God that was just a straight JACK of Infernal Affairs towards the end.
And what’s up with the hate on Infernal Affairs 2. I thought it was a masterpiece, so subtle, so different in atmosphere than the first one. It felt like a completely different movie to me. Hell, I think it’s even better than Infernal Affairs. Not a little better….a LOT better (I never liked the first one that much). IA 2 is definitely one of the best films I’ve ever seen.
ok first of all departed was the shit. it had great acting and directing . also why would anyone think that a departed 2 with wahlbergs character be bad i mean the guy was up for an oscar. And lastly it will be good because its scorsese and theres a reason why he is who is and why we are writing on a blog, the man knows what he is doing.
It is impossible to convert the prequel of IA to Departed 2. The backgrounds of the major roles and some time frames have completely been edited in The Departed 1. How can Nicholson’s wife kill the father of Leonardo, the former boss of Nicholson?…..
Bro….i’m sorry but Internal Affair, Infernal Affairs whatevertf, sucked so much a$$ that it was too much for any known being to handle. Alien bandits from the planet Zarthru can’t handle this film cause its emmence crapiness cause their heads to explode. I weap for your opinion and laugh at your idea of the greatest Asian film ever made….SHOGUNS SADISM IS THE GREATEST ASIAN FILM EVER MADE…… -___-
mark whalberg’s character was the best and its better to base the story arnd him and try smthin new and not copy everything