I'm curious if Jackson is distancing himself from the `76 version "(Jackson has said he is pretending the 1976 update does not exist.)" or if the indirect quote is misrepresenting his intent, or perhaps if he misspoke. While it may have taken some liberties to update the script, it did launch the career of Jessica Lange, perhaps one of the best American-born, female actors of this generation. I wouldn't be surprized if what Jaskson said was merely that he was focusing on the original rather than purposefully ignoring a specific remake.