Steven Knight Is Working on a Remake of Hitchcock’s Classic, ‘Vertigo,’ with Robert Downey Jr.

A remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo is in the works, with writer Steven Knight taking on the challenging task of adapting the iconic 1958 psychological thriller. Many film lovers regard the original as one of the greatest movies ever made, and it’s often seen as untouchable, leaving little room for a successful remake.

However, Knight, best known for creating Peaky Blinders, is diving in with the goal of bringing it to a new generation.

Knight admitted that adapting Vertigo is no easy feat. In an interview promoting his latest series A Thousand Blows, he referred to himself as ‘an idiot’ for trying to take on the project.

He shared, ‘You’d have to be an idiot to adapt it, so that’s what I am.’ Despite the daunting task, Knight enjoys the complexity of it. He compared writing the script to ‘diffusing a second World War time bomb,’ explaining that it’s a difficult yet exciting challenge that keeps him busy.

Knight’s script work is still ongoing, as of early 2025. He also mentioned that the film is in development with Robert Downey Jr. set to star in the lead role of John ‘Scottie’ Ferguson, the character originally portrayed by James Stewart.

Downey, along with his wife, Susan, will also serve as producers, with John Davis and John Fox of Davis Entertainment involved as well. The film will be distributed by Paramount.

Although there’s been little public progress since the remake was first announced in 2023, Knight’s comments confirm that work on the script is still happening.

Knight has a busy schedule, with several projects in the works, including the Peaky Blinders movie and the second season of A Thousand Blows. However, it looks like he’s currently focused on the remake, so fans might not have to wait much longer for updates.

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