Solidifying its reputation as The Newly Legitimized Gimmick That Ate Modern Filmmaking, Variety confirms that Martin Scorsese has agreed to enter the 3D fray with his next project, The Invention Of Hugo Cabret. The adaptation of Brian Selznick’s children’s book about a young orphan struggling to repair his late father’s broken robot in 1930s Paris is already something of an unconventional choice for Scorsese, although its illustrated, silent-movie-evoking layout—which is told in a series of black-and-white frames—and numerous references to classic film (including featuring French innovator George Méliès as a moonlighting toymaker) definitely speaks to Scorsese’s archivist nature.
Shooting it in 3D, however, is kind of a gutsy move on his part considering the film is independently produced, meaning studio pressure to get that 3D dolla dolla had zero influence on Scorsese’s decision; he just really, really wants to do it. And after all, Scorsese has been vocal about embracing the technology, even saying he thought Precious: Subtitle I Refuse To Type Out should have been in 3D. Fortunately, he plans to use 3D cameras, rather than retroactively apply the process—something that made recent 3D bandwagon-jumpers like Alice In Wonderland and Clash Of The Titans feel, despite the added dimensions, strangely flat (though of course, the scripts didn’t help). Already-announced cast members include Asa Butterfield (The Boy In The Striped Pajamas) in the lead role, along with Chloe Moretz (Kick-Ass), Ben Kingsley, and Sacha Baron Cohen, and Scorsese plans to spend much of the next year shooting it with an eye on a December 2011 release. Let us now spend the comments locked in fanciful musing on which classic Scorsese films we’d most like to see redone in 3D; I vote Raging Bull, for both obvious and also Cathy Moriarty-related reasons.