‘The Mask’ Was Supposed to Be a Horror Film, Says Director Chuck Russell, but ‘It Would Be Too Much Like Freddy Krueger’
variety.comPatrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Legendary Hollywood director and producer Charles ‘Chuck’ Russell says that the breakout film “The Mask” was originally conceived by New Line Cinema as a horror movie.
Instead, the 1994 action comedy went on to be a career-defining picture for Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz, a global box office hit and a defining moment for the use of VFX in comedy films. “I’d directed ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street 3’ and made friends at New Line.
Then I did ‘The Blob’ and New Line wanted another shocking horror film. The was a comic book of ‘The Mask’ that was quite terrifying,” said Russell. “I said its going to be too much like [‘Elm Street’ character] Freddy Krueger.
It’s going to be horrible. But there’s this guy named Jim Carrey who has just come out in living color.” Russell was speaking on Wednesday as part of a master class at Film Bazaar, the industry component of the International Film Festival India in Goa. “It was the only time in my career when it was very hard to explain to others what was the potential with this particular actor,” Russell said.
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