As many have remarked over the past few years, we are now in a time of sequels, spinoffs, and reboots. Every major or minor character from every major or minor film seems to be getting their own movie right now. This makes it unsurprising that actor John Turturro is still angling for a spinoff film for his character from The Big Lebowski, as well as a sequel to Barton Fink.
Turturro recently talked with The Playlist (via /Film) about the possibilities for a Big Lebowski spinoff featuring his secondary but memorable character Jesus Quintana. Here’s what he said about that:
You know, [the Jesus Quintana film] it’s something that I would love to do and if I’m able to do it I would talk about it, but it’s something I would love to do that’s all I can say. I don’t want to jeopardize anything. You’ll hear about it if I know. If I am going to do something like that I’ll know sooner than later.
Whatever Turturro might be hoping for, it still does not sound like the Coen Brothers are interested in doing a sequel to their classic film, even if it does feature Jesus.
A Barton Fink sequel seems much more likely, though, as the Coens have actually been waiting to do that film. Ethan Coen teased that one back in 2009, saying that they are just waiting for Turturro to be old enough to play the part again. The idea, as Joel Coen put it, is to bring Barton back, this time teaching at Berkeley in 1967, after having given up a number of his friends to the House Un-American Activities Committee. That sounds more reasonable and a more likely project than The Big Lebowski spinoff, and is a film I would not mind seeing.
Of course, the Coens are not known for producing sequels to their films, the Fargo TV show notwithstanding. Turturro has been seeking permission to do The Big Lebowski spinoff himself, but so far that seems like a pipe dream. What I find hopeful in all of this is John Turturro‘s stated desire to continue to work with the Coens. Whether or not that comes in the form of a sequel or spinoff does not really matter to me.
