After a while, Crocodile?
Success of Dundee film trailer makes Hemsworth consider actual remake
Chris Hemsworth wants to turn his spoof trailer for a new Crocodile Dundee film into a real movie.
The Melbourne-born actor features in an advertisement for Tourism Australia that was touted as a trailer for a followup to the original movies featuring Paul Hogan as rough and ready bushman Mick Dundee.
The spoof trailer, which purported to be for a film called Dundee: The Son of a Legend Returns Home, featured the Thor star as a tour guide for Mick’s American son, played by Danny McBride, as well as Hemsworth’s brother Liam, Russell Crowe, Margot Robbie, Hugh Jackman, Ruby Rose and Isla Fisher.
Speaking to the BBC, Hemsworth revealed he has discussed making a real film while shooting the ad, and since the commercial has received a positive response, he is keen to move forward with the project.
“If we could find the right story and script we might do it,” the 34-year-old said. “While shooting, Danny McBride and I spoke about if it could be a movie. We started to get worried that if this commercial is as good as we hoped it’s going to be, people are going to be disappointed, we’re going to have to make a movie. But I had so much fun making this commercial, I’d definitely be open to discussions about it.”
The original 1986 film, which followed Mick as he travelled from Australia to New York, was a surprise global hit, earning US$328 million around the world.
Hemsworth said the film was a huge part of his childhood.
“I’d seen it multiple times growing up and I think, like most people, I loved the sense of humour and sense of adventure that it embodied.”
Previously, Australian star Rebel Wilson wrote on Twitter that she had approached Hogan, Crocodile Dundee’s creator, with an idea for a female-fronted reboot but had been rebuffed.
However, if Hemsworth’s version is not made, he said he’d love to see Wilson take on the role, adding, “She’d be a better one than I’d be, she can sing too so we could do a musical version.”