Law talks turkey over Alfie flop

JUDE LAW has finally admitted what critics and audiences already know — that his remake of Alfie was a turkey.

The actor took on the role made famous by Michael Caine in the 1966 original.

But his 2004 update died a death at the box office and is regularly included in lists of the worst-ever movie remakes.

Law, 37, is playing another Caine role, this time in an updated version of 1972 psychological thriller, Sleuth.

Caine, 74, is also appearing in the film, in the part originally played by Laurence Olivier.

The two actors were together at the Venice Film Festival to promote Sleuth, and Law volunteered a comparison with his role in Alfie.

“The modern version of Alfie to me was a challenge because I hadn’t played a character like that before. I don’t know that I did it particularly well,” said Law, as Caine sat beside him.

“Michael is many, many, many actors’ hero and he is certainly an acting hero of mine. When I was approached originally to work on the new version of Alfie, it seemed like a brilliant idea because the original was so successful.

“From my point of view, it didn’t quite turn out the way I wanted it to. But part of the reason you embark on a creative journey is to sometimes fall flat. It can also sometimes lead to triumph.”

The new version of Sleuth has met with a warmer reception from the critics in Venice.

Law plays Milo Trindle, an out-of-work actor who has stolen the wife of multimillionaire crime writer Andrew Wyke, played by Caine.

Wyke invites the younger man to his country home to make him a proposition, and a deadly game of cat-and-mouse ensues.

The original was based on an award-winning play by Anthony Shaffer.

The remake has a script by Harold Pinter and is directed by Kenneth Branagh.