The First Trailer For Stan’s Controversial ‘Romper Stomper’ Remake Is Here
"If we cop flak for it, so be it."
Over the past 25 years, Romper Stomper has stood iconic as one of the most controversial films in Australian cinematic history.
Though arguably intended to interrogate racism, the film went on to become a favourite of neo-Nazis all around the world. It was famously refused review by critic David Stratton, who labelled it “dangerous”; a film that was harmful “in these volatile times, with racism on the march all over the world”. But that only went to further the intrigue and hype…
Now we have our first look at its remake — a six-episode mini-series from Stan. And, yes, it’ll likely be just as controversial.
The new series will expand on the themes and story of the original film, while updating elements for the present day. The show will follow “a new generation of the activist Right, their Anti-Fascist counterparts and three young Lebanese Muslims caught between the conflict”. The racist groups have traded swastikas for Southern Crosses and ‘love it or leave’ merch, but are still just as terrifying.
The film’s original director Geoffrey Wright has returned to contribute writing and directing credits, but is this time joined by a few others including NZ filmmaker James Napier Robertson, journalist Malcolm Knox and poet/rapper Omar Musa. Musa’s award-winning work often reckons with race, violence and national identity, and he should make an interesting addition to the creative team. Unlike the original film, the Romper Stomper series will be told from multiple points of view.
“Romper Stomper the series is nothing like the original movie in terms of how it presents,” Stan CEO Mike Sneesby told Fairfax.
“There have been questions about why is Stan doing this show, [that white extremism] doesn’t deserve a platform. But the reality is if you go out there into middle Australia, you can absolutely see a world where people get roped into it … For us to lay it all out in context, and show what happens, is important. If we cop flak for it, so be it. I think it’s an issue that needs to have light shed on it.”
Stan’s Chief Content Officer, Nick Forward, has echoed these statements. “Romper Stomper shines a light on the alienated and fractured members of modern society, and the day to day realities of racism and bigotry in Australia,” he said.
That statement has had some weight given to it recently, as the men who racially abused Senator Sam Dastyari claimed they were from a group called Patriot Blue. It’s the same name of the group in the upcoming series, and Stan has since taken legal action and distanced themselves from the real-world racism.
“Stan and Roadshow Productions would like to clarify that while our series does refer to a purely fictional group created for the series called Patriot Blue, there is no association between our organisations or the Romper Stomper production and those involved in [the Dastyari] incident,” the company said in a statement.
“We strongly condemn the actions of this group and racial discrimination in all its forms. The group involved have misappropriated the name of the fictional group from the series.”
This had been a deliberate move by the group as they sought to increase their profile, and boasted about the new members this would bring in.
In short: yep, this is going to be a divisive show. Debate is already kicking off, but you can check it out for yourself on January 1. Stan will be dropping the series in full on New Years Day.