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The Farrelly Brothers Reviving the Three Stooges in 2009 - Updated!

by Alex Billington
November 3, 2008

MGM has signed on Peter and Bobby Farrelly, better known as the Farrelly Brothers (of Dumb & Dumber, There's Something About Mary, Shallow Hal, Stuck on You, The Heartbreak Kid), to direct a contemporary re-imagining of The Three Stooges. The Farrellys are big fans and have tried to get a film setup over at Warner Brothers for over five years, but only recently got the greenlight at MGM. The studio has already set a November 20th, 2009 release date for the currently untitled film. The Stooges, made up of Moe Howard, Larry Fine and Curly Howard, originally appeared in short films during the 1930's and beyond. No writer has been announced for this project yet, as the Farrelly's will only be directing.

I'm not personally a Three Stooges fan, and I'm really not a Farrelly Brothers fan (I hate them and their unfunny movies), so I can't at all get interested in this. I'm not really sure how the Three Stooges would even work in modern cinema anyway? I know I'm not a fan of stupid humor, but maybe there are audiences who are? As much buzz as the revival of the Three Stooges will get next year, this is a project that I'm already fearing could turn out pretty awful. Or at least one that I know I will probably hate. It all depends on who they cast (and also who writes the script) - although I've got a funny feeling that the actors they get will only make things much worse. Is anyone genuinely excited by this news?

Update: Variety has added a few more details about the project for those who were skeptical. First off, the Farrellys will be polishing a script they previously wrote together with Michael Cerrone. The comedy will be given a $45 million budget and be either PG or PG-13 and feature the slap-happy low-tech comedy that the Stooges are known for. They will conduct an "American Idol"-like search to find Curly, although their is no mention of Moe or Larry, who I'm guessing will be played by real actors. Their goal is to create a feeling that the audiences got when they watched the original Stooges shorts. Part of this feeling includes running several comedic shorts that will precede their full film as well.

Peter Farrelly explains: "It's not a biopic. It takes place in present day, and they look, dress and sound exactly like the Stooges. When the economy started turning, we felt like the world could use a Stooges slapfest... It's the most exciting thing we could think of now, to have people go to the movie, see some great slapstick fun family humor." Now we finally have an idea as to why they're so interested (and excited) in reviving this classic comedy trio. "We know this is extremely difficult to pull off; we realize some Stooges fans will be upset no matter what we do," Farrelly said. "We love the Stooges and honor their memory, and we don't want them to disappear. We hope that next Thanksgiving, dads will introduce their kids to the Stooges and create a new generation of knuckleheads." You have got to be kidding me...

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32 Comments

the stooges are my homeboys

Vegeta on Nov 3, 2008

please god no! dont ruin a classic like the 3 stooges but there are def audiences for stupid humor, me and everyone else who goes to see a will ferrel movie

harrison on Nov 3, 2008

I bet it will end up with the usual apatow/stiller film cast.. here's hoping instead that its Deniro, Walken, and Hoffman as the three stooges 😉

Tom Dearsley on Nov 3, 2008

Why don't they just re-sculpt Mt. Rushmore while they're at it. This is one of the worst ideas I've heard in a long time. I don't hate the Farellys; but their films are the cinematic equivalent of a glazed donut.

Dave Lister, JMC on Nov 3, 2008

You cant have a 3 Stooges movie without the three stooges...

Serafina on Nov 3, 2008

Oh no. The press release can be found at the Stooges' official site: http://www.threestooges.com/news/article.asp?intNewsID=98 It has been almost a decade since I've heard that C3 Entertainment (the co. that owns the Stooges) have been wanting to do something like this, revive the franchise for today. The day has finally come, and worse, I'm alive to experience it. Fuck.

Ivan Jaime on Nov 3, 2008

I thought a 3 stooges movie is out already in the theater called... Tropic Thunder!!. Anyhow, I love T.H. I loved the 3 Stooges. It's one of the best classics ever in comedy. If they revived it, some how it gotta be black & white. I think they will cast Jim Carrey, Jack Black, and maybe Ben or Seth Rogen? Not sure a full feature film will work. It has to be like 3-4 shorts put together.

Joe C. on Nov 3, 2008

I think it all depends on who they cast. They'll need guys who are going to have great chemistry right off the bat, and I'm not sure that can be done.

Apollo on Nov 3, 2008

I agree with you Alex. I just don't see how this can be re-made in today's cinema. I am curious how WB will pull this one of with said actors.

Jeremy on Nov 3, 2008

chris farleys brother would be a could curley.

dac_fan on Nov 3, 2008

not surprised.

Red Buttons on Nov 3, 2008

#5- You cant have a 3 Stooges movie without the three stooges… You can if they do a dramatisation of the Stooges' life together. If they just do the skits then this is like doing a remake of the Marx Bros without the Marx Bros, it doesn't make sense. And it will be a sad day if they just use the name to sell some modern day SNL layoffs to the public.

nef deppard on Nov 3, 2008

JT you have some anger control issues.. Alex just reported. and Yeah, I am scared shitless... why would they do this. At this point I am calling this one a bad idea.

Sojourner on Nov 3, 2008

Watch 'Disorder in the Court' its a Stooges, and is in the Public Domain. I love it, its hilarious.

Rory on Nov 3, 2008

Hmm, my post vanished... anyways, #12, a remake of the Marx Bros without the Marx Bros has already happened! From 1992 Brain Donors! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_Donors

Ivan Jaime on Nov 4, 2008

Lol, $45 million for a Three Stooges movie ... what is wrong with this picture?

HollywoodRetarded on Nov 4, 2008

Alex, I don't understand why you have so much distaste for the Three Stooges. Is it not only classic humor, but Sam Raimi is a huge fan of the stooges. Remember in Evil Dead 2 and Army of Darkness? - same kinda humor.

Conrad on Nov 4, 2008

This looks lame...I agree the Farrely Brothers are overrated and I just don't think the Stooges are going to translate to this day and age... I'm sure my parents will like this news though so perhaps I'm just not their demographic.

peloquin on Nov 4, 2008

What the hell...?

Ajax on Nov 4, 2008

#15- anyways, #12, a remake of the Marx Bros without the Marx Bros has already happened! Tragedy. Thanks for the FYI.

nef deppard on Nov 4, 2008

I am a lifelong, die-hard Stooge fan...they brought more than just a few laughs to some of us...they gave us joy and relief from stressful times of the period... the Farrellys, if they are true fans and are resigned to doing this project, had better do it right...personally, I dont think the Stooges will translate well into this time period mainly because they dont BELONG in this era...I really think they should just leave it alone... a very respectful and heartwarming tribute film has already been done and it should be left alone at that...jmo

moldybread on Nov 5, 2008

There was a TV Three Stooges biopic starring Michael Chiklis as Curly (really!). I doubt the Farrellys will top it (and I'm a fan!), but here's hoping it's more STUCK ON YOU than HEARTBREAK KID.

Juan Carlo on Nov 6, 2008

Yahmn....uhm...this is like saying: "revive charlie chaplin for the modern cinema", its just not going to work. Finding new Stooges will be fuckin imposible, the only good thing is that they're using curly and not shemp, or curly "joe" which was just ridculous. im a good, big fan of the trio, and my opinion is that this is going to end up just like the dragonball movie, it either going to be REALLY GOOD, OR REALLY BAD, it cant bbe in between.

XD Reyes on Dec 28, 2008

Mel Gibson's ICON did a 'made for TV' version biopic a few years back. (Gibson is a huge fan) It works as a documentary and a salute to a comedy team of yesteryear but I can't see how it's going to translate to a 21st century movie at all. I'll probably keep my eye on the progress of this anyway.

Dave on Jan 5, 2009

I agree with XD Reyes. This movie is either going to be great... or really suck. It all depends on who they cast. I vote for Jack Black as Moe,Will Ferrel as Larry, and Forest Whitaker as Curly.

Shayne on Jan 12, 2009

If they put that sap & unfunny Ben Stiller anywhere near this it will suk eggs-

Ronnie Ray Gunz on Jan 14, 2009

Farrelly Brothers are going to fuck up perfection.

Ryuu0470 on Feb 1, 2009

There is no other Curly, Moe, or Larry than Curly and Moe Howard and Larry Fine. This movie will be just like all the other remakes, horrible. Remakes are designed for people who never saw or appreciated the original. They are for people who won't realize how much the new version rots when compared with the original. Remakers expect their cheap replicas to stand alone AS IF it were the original. I'll only see it if I suddenly lose my memory, or my sense of humor, or I am suddenly two years old again and have no idea what is good or bad. No currently known actor could fill the roles. Johnny Depp as Moe, Sean Penn as Larry? Horrible! Wil Ferrell as anyone! Beyond Horror! Hey, I've got an idea. How about doing what the Stooges did in the first place. Pioneer a new and exciting and funny kind of comedy that people want to see because it's new and good.

curly on Mar 8, 2009

Bad idea.

Tom on May 13, 2009

If you are a fan of the Farrelly brothers, you might want to check out this cool interview with them about how they write comedy from MakingOf.com: http://makingof.com/insiders/media/bobby-farrelly/-peter-farrelly/on-comedy-and-documentary-film/85/184

Tyrone on Jun 10, 2009

I agree with #28 at the end of his post. Make an all new slapstick movie that has the feel of the old black and white movies. Don't try to do a remake. For the people that are saying that slapstick is long dead, I say look at Mel brooks' 1976 "Silent Movie". It was Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Yes, that was 30 years ago, but I still think that slapstick would work just as well today as it did a century ago. The big mistake would be trying to copy someone elses work. Unless you do it JUST right it will be a big failure.

Donkey on Aug 11, 2009

Wow, glad if nobody blogging here makes movies... don't take on a challenge... reveir the classics so much they should be bottled up and put on an unseen shelf... and certainly don't give anyone the chance to reimbrace classic formulas that todays society couldn't possibly understand. I am looking forward to seeing their take on this genre and the heros of comedy revived.

Tom on Apr 22, 2010

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