‘Coke and booze didn’t help my creativity’: Joe Eszterhas on his wild times – and his supernatural, anti-woke Basic Instinct reboot
He was the screenwriting colossus behind Flashdance, Jagged Edge, Showgirls and more. Now clean, ‘Hollywood’s Shakespeare’ talks about today’s scared studios, his refugee trauma – and taking acid with Hunter S Thompson Joe Eszterhas was the swaggering pitchman of 80s and 90s Hollywood; the king of the high-concept, precision-tooled blockbuster. He wrote Jagged Edge, co-scripted Flashdance , and pocketed a then record $3m for his Basic Instinct screenplay. Writers typically skulk near the bottom of the industry food chain but Eszterhas flipped the script to make himself a boss and a brand. ABC called him a “living legend”, while Time magazine posed a breathless rhetorical question: “If Shakespeare were alive today, would his name be Joe Eszterhas?” Pride, as any hack writer will tell you, usually comes before a fall, and so it was with Eszterhas, who confused success with excess and barely got out of the business alive. “The coke and the booze,” he says, remembering. “Those weren’t helping my creativity, they were holding it back.” His best years in Hollywood were conversely his worst. Continue reading...
Joe Eszterhas, the screenwriter who once reigned supreme in Hollywood with hits like Flashdance, Jagged Edge, and Showgirls, is back in the spotlight. Now clean and sober, Eszterhas is rebooting his career with a supernatural, anti-woke version of Basic Instinct. In a recent interview, he reflected on his wild past, the challenges facing Hollywood today, and the refugee trauma that shaped his life.
Eszterhas was once hailed as “Hollywood’s Shakespeare” by ABC and Time magazine, which posed the question: “If Shakespeare were alive today, would his name be Joe Eszterhas?” His success in the 1980s and 1990s was unprecedented. He wrote Jagged Edge, co-scripted Flashdance, and earned a record-breaking $3 million for his work on Basic Instinct. Unlike many writers who remain obscure in the industry, Eszterhas became a powerful figure and a brand in his own right.
However, as the saying goes, pride often comes before a fall. Eszterhas’s success led him down a path of excess. He confessed that his reliance on cocaine and alcohol stifled his creativity rather than enhancing it. “The coke and the booze,” he recalled, “those weren’t helping my creativity, they were holding it back.” His best years in Hollywood were, ironically, his worst.
Eszterhas’s descent into addiction was not without its low points. He recounted taking acid with the legendary Hunter S. Thompson, a hallucinogenic experience that left him questioning his sanity. Yet, amidst the chaos, Eszterhas managed to claw his way back from the brink. Today, he is clean and focused on rebuilding his legacy with a fresh take on Basic Instinct.
The reboot, set to be released soon, promises to be a supernatural, anti-woke thriller that challenges the status quo in Hollywood. Eszterhas, who has always been known for his high-concept, precision-tooled blockbusters, is eager to prove that he still has what it takes to captivate audiences.
In addition to his personal struggles, Eszterhas has also spoken candidly about the challenges facing Hollywood today. He believes that studios are increasingly scared, often prioritizing political correctness over artistic vision. This fear, he argues, stifles creativity and limits the potential for groundbreaking stories.
Eszterhas’s refugee trauma has also played a significant role in shaping his outlook on life and his work. As a refugee from Hungary, he experienced firsthand the harsh realities of displacement and the struggle to find one’s place in a new world. These experiences have informed his storytelling, giving his work a depth and authenticity that resonates with audiences.
Despite the obstacles he has faced, Eszterhas remains optimistic about the future of Hollywood. He believes that the industry needs more writers like him—those who are not afraid to take risks and push boundaries. With his reboot of Basic Instinct, Eszterhas aims to reclaim his throne and remind the world of his enduring talent.
As Joe Eszterhas navigates this new chapter in his career, his story serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of excess and a testament to the power of resilience. His return to Hollywood, fueled by a renewed sense of purpose and a refusal to be silenced, is a reminder that even the most troubled of souls can rise from the ashes and create something extraordinary.
