Kevin Bacon, a well-known figure in the film industry, has long harbored aspirations of remaking the iconic Japanese horror film “Audition,” yet he has faced ongoing challenges in bringing this project to fruition. Despite being a celebrated actor recognized for his versatility across various genres, Bacon has never reached the superstar status of contemporaries like Tom Hanks or Brad Pitt, making it more difficult for him to successfully pitch his passion projects to Hollywood studios.
Bacon is well aware of his standing in the industry, having consciously chosen not to chase the high-profile leading roles that followed his breakout success in “Footloose.” This decision reflected a desire to avoid being typecast and allowed him to explore diverse roles, ultimately leading to a rich career that spans decades. However, this also means that securing funding for personal projects like an American version of “Audition” has proven to be an uphill battle.
Reflecting on his attempts, Bacon recently shared, “I really tried for a lot of years to do an American version of it. We never really got it together. It was difficult for a lot of reasons.” His ambition to adapt Takashi Miike’s hard-hitting horror film had high hopes during a period when Hollywood was keen on remaking acclaimed Japanese films. However, despite initial interest, various attempts to resurrect the project have not materialized.
In 2014, producer Mario Kassar had plans for a remake with director Richard Gray at the helm, which ultimately fell through. Most recently, in 2025, there were indications that Christian Tafdrup would write and direct a new adaptation based on the original source novel by Ryū Murakami—a project that risks sidestepping Bacon’s aspirations once again.
As the landscape of Hollywood continues to evolve, there remains a glimmer of hope for Bacon. Should this new adaptation take off, it may present an opportunity for him to finally have a role in a project he has long envisioned—a chance to move a step closer to realizing his dream while contributing his talent to a film with such significant cultural impact. The challenges he faces reflect the complexities of the film industry, yet his perseverance embodies the spirit of an artist committed to his craft, keeping the possibility of success alive.