In Marvel comic-to-film news, William Hurt joins Louis Letterier’s increasingly-stacked The Incredible Hulk as Gen. Thad “Thunderbolt” Ross. (The movie, it may be remembered, already stars Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, and Tim Roth.) And, also rumored to be in the works: a Silver Surfer film written by J. Michael Straczynski of Babylon 5 (Will the character have any life in him after FF2 this weekend? I somehow doubt it) and a Thor film directed by Matthew Vaughn of Layer Cake and Stardust. (Ooh…can we get Beta Ray Bill?)
Tag: Casting
(Who We’re) Watching (As) The Watchmen.
Breaking a few weeks ago now, AICN claims to have the skinny on the initial casting of Zach Snyder’s version of Watchmen. Rumored as the Nite-Owl, Patrick Wilson of The Alamo and Little Children. (He’s a bit buff for the role, frankly. I’d expected someone a little more gone to seed, like John Cusack or even Tom Hulce.) As Doctor Manhattan, Neo himself, Keanu Reeves. (Um, ok. I don’t really see that working. Then again, I don’t really see anyone else working either, this side of Gollum-style CGI) And, as Ozymandias, much-avowed Watchmen fan Jude Law. (That’s pretty good, although somebody like Aaron Eckhart would be even better.) That’s it so far, other than that Snyder — who won’t deny these casting rumors — has promised he’d get Gerard Butler of 300 in there somewhere. (Why bother? I don’t remember any character who’s supposed to YELL…ALL…THE…TIME.) At any rate, that means Simon Pegg as Rorschach is still a possibility, if one that is very, very remote.
Griswold Goes Gotham.
“It’s really a great role. I’m in throughout the whole movie, and I’m really looking forward to working with Christian and Morgan and all these real Hollywood heavy hitters.” Um, who is Anthony Michael Hall playing in The Dark Knight? “‘I signed a confidentiality agreement, and I can’t say which part I’m playing because it affects the story,’ says Hall.‘” Some sites have suggested he’s [spoilers] playing a vigilante Batman, likely one who gets snared by the Joker, although that wouldn’t explain why his scenes seem to involve Morgan Freeman (Lucius Fox).
Frodo goes Gollum | O Beware, my Lords, of Jealousy.
Elijah Wood as Iggy Pop? Um, I’m not sure I see it. But, in more intriguing entertainment news, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Ewan MacGregor will team up for Othello on the London stage, as Othello and Iago respectively. That’d be great to see.
Mr. Orange, meet Mr. Green.
I have to say, I continue to be completely thrown by what’s emerging from Louis Leterrier’s Incredible Hulk do-over. Now joining Ed Norton as Bruce Banner are Liv Tyler as the love interest (Betty Ross, a.k.a. Jennifer Connelly in the Ang Lee version) and, more interestingly, Tim Roth as the villain, Emil Blonsky a.k.a. Abomination. Norton v. Roth in a chew-and-smash-the-scenery contest? That should be great fun.
Hey, Malkovich, read fast!
He’s seen a world that no man should see. Now he’s suiting up as the lead in the Coen brothers’ Burn after Reading, with George Clooney, Frances McDormand, and Brad Pitt. It’s good to be John Malkovich.
The Pope of Gotham City.
You know what the next Batman movie needs? That certain straight-to-video je-ne-sais-quoi…Eric Roberts joins the cast of Chris Nolan’s The Dark Knight, as “a Mafia kingpin.”
No Country for Tyler Durden.
It’s a good time to be a Coen fan (but isn’t it always?) Not only is their version of Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men in the can (and at Cannes), but casting is filling out for their next project, Burn after Reading. Joining George Clooney in this second flick, his Oceans A-List stablemate Brad Pitt (long attached to a failed Coen project, To the White Sea.)
Where’s La Boeuf?
As closure to the Indy 4 casting rumors posted a few weeks ago: It turns out that Shia La Boeuf is in fact in for Dr. Jones’ fourth adventure (as is Cate Blanchett and Ray Winstone, but sadly, no Sallah), likely as the prodigal son. La Boeuf seems like a solid actor, all in all, but as I said before, I’ve got a bad feeling about this.
Project: Mayhem.
Even after Tyler Durden, apparently, he still has rage issues: Edward Norton signs up to play Louis Leterrier’s Incredible Hulk. Interesting — I was expecting this movie, coming so soon after Ang Lee’s botch, to be basically a straight-to-video do-over. But Norton’s presence is, without a doubt, an X-factor, and now I’m actually intrigued by it.