I’m stunned this morning. I’m reading Variety’s story and it’s telling me that when Steven Spielberg has finished Tintin he will remake Jimmy Stewart’s classic 1950 drama Harvey and I can barely comprehend that it’s true. Has Steven Spielberg completely and utterly lost his mind?

It’s one thing thinking he can remake the embodiment of cinematic perfection in Oldboy but he’s at least equalled in that foolishness by taking on this project. Remaking classic James Stewart – just insanity. Is that what it has come down too, and from a smart guy like Spielberg?

Unlike last week when we heard he was flirting with starting his own Bourne like franchise with Matt Helm (which is 100% most definitely a better idea than this), Spielberg has made sure a press release has gone out so that we all know in no uncertain terms this is what he will be working on next. No if’s/but’s. He will make Harvey next, the story of middle-aged eccentric Elwood P. Dowd who is best friends with a giant invisible rabbit, which unlike in Donnie Darko we never actually get to see on screen.

Harvey is best loved for James Stewart’s immortal portrayal of Dowd where all the traits of what people expected from the movie star were cranked up to the maximum. 

Spielberg will no doubt cast Tom Hanks, and yeah he will put in a lovable enough performance and I can see the charm in wanting to see Hanks play that role but damn, both these guys should know better than to self-indulge. 

The movie is setup at 20th Century Fox and Dreamworks, from a script by novelist turned first time screenwriter Jonathan Troppe.

It will shoot early next year… and it’s only a matter of time until we hear of Hanks’ casting.