Abel Ferrara of “Bad Lieutentant” Says Werner Herzog “Can Die In Hell”

Abel Ferrara made the 1992 deeply gritty classic Bad Lieutenant with Harvey Keitel, and he’s had to scratch and claw to get his movies made all his life. Now Werner Herzog is directing a remake of the film starring Nicolas Cage. While promoting his new examination of religion entitled Mary, starring Juliette Binoche, he had some choice words for the people involved in this new project, particularly Herzog himself.

“He can die in hell. I hate these people – they suck. A, he don’t know me, couldn’t pick me out of a line-up. B, I’m chasing windmills. Well, I’d rather chase windmills than steal other people’s ideas. It’s lame. I can’t believe Nic Cage is trying to play that part. I mean, if the kid needed the money… It’s like Harvey Keitel said, “If the guy needed the money, if he came to us and said, ‘My career’s on the rocks,’ I’d cut him a break.” But to take $2 million – I mean, our film didn’t cost half of $2 million. That film was made on blood and guts, man. So I really wish it didn’t upset me as much as it does.”

“Nobody asked us to do it. Nobody approached us and said, “Would you do it?” Give us $8 million, we’ll come up with something. They give me twenty grand and say, “Go fuck yourself.” Gimme a break! They aren’t paying Harvey anything, they aren’t paying him two cents. Ed Pressman sucks cock in hell, period. You can print that.”

Well, now. It’s definitely been printed. Now to wait for an entertaining response from Herzog.