David Cronenberg reveals he refused to direct Flashdance

“I would have destroyed the film,” laughs the Canadian filmmaker today, who still doesn’t understand why he was offered the job.

His career could have been very different, if he had directed to the sound of Irene Cara and What a Feeling !

Yes, David Cronenberg could have taken care of Flash dancewhen, in the early 1980s, producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson offered him the job. Looking back on his career during the Marrakech Film Festival this Sunday, the Canadian icon said:

“You may be surprised, but the producers of Flashdance at the time were convinced that I was the right director to make the film. Frankly, I don't know why they thought I should go. occupy… So in the end, I said no and I even answered them: “But if I made Flashdance, I would destroy it!”

At this point in his career, David Cronenberg was a young filmmaker of 40, out of Scannersa small global sci-fi success. His style was still unknown and he established himself precisely in 1983. WhileAdrian Lyne directs Flash dancewhich became the third biggest box office success of the year, Cronenberg signed Dead Zone Then Videodrometwo founding feature films, which will establish the foundations of the new genre Cronenbergianstudying body horrors with cerebral coldness. The Fly will follow immediately after.

“My work has often been criticized as horrible, decadent and depraved. For me it's a good thing” the director continues. “I nicknamed myself the Blood Baron. At least I didn't say I was the King… I remain modest.”