Atticus Ross To Score Samurai Epic ’47 RONIN’
Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails and composing partner of Trent Reznor has lined up a new solo gig according to ThePlaylist. He’s been hired to score Carl Erik Rinsch’s massive Hollywood samurai epic based on the legendary Japanese tale of the 47 Ronin. Ross and Reznor won the best original score Oscar back in 2010 for David Fincher’s The Social Network. The pair also did an equally impressive job on the score for Fincher’s English remake of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. While Atticus is no stranger to scoring on his own, working on projects like The Book of Eli. This will be his first period film and could be a very interesting listen when it’s finished.
Warner Bros. To Decide On The Fate Of Akira Soon
ShowBlitz reports that the studio is going to be making to decision to greenlight their Akira adaptation or not. The project has had a long history of problems loosing two of it’s directors and testing many actors but nothing came from it. Names like Michael Fassbender (First Class, Prometheus, 300), James McAvoy (First Class, Wanted), Andrew Garfield (Amazing Spider-Man, Social Network), Keanu Reeves (Matrix Trilogy, Point Break, Speed), Garrett Hedlund (Tron Legacy), Chris Pine (Star Trek 1-2, This Means War), Justin Timberlake (Social Network) and Joaquin Phoenix have been linked for testing.
Fans had been angry over the whitewash casting along with moving the location from Tokyo to Manhattan. It’s budget was also too large likely since the whole movie is a gamble at this point. The studio wouldn’t want to spend too much money if the fanbase isn’t there. Last summer they gambled with high-concept Green Lantern which turned out to be a critical and financial blunder.
Director Albert Hughes Leaves WB’s Akira
Deadline reports that Albert Hughes (From Hell, Book of Eli) has exited the terrible sounding Akira adaptation. They say the director and studio have creative differences. It’s unknown if the all the white casting candidates or deviation from important Japanese setting from the source material was the reason. Warners is pushing forward and looking for a replacement director. Giving the impression production is likely to start within the year. This is the second director to leave the project the first being Oscar nominated Ruairi Robinson.
Keanu Reeves recently turned down the lead role of Kaneda which seems to be yet another kink in the works for the film. It also doesn’t help Akira isn’t getting much backing from the source material’s fanbase. Changing many of elements from the original story along with the characters’ ages, Japanese setting and tone (going from R to PG-13). There is also a rather large online campaign to stop the “white-washing” casting. I’m a really big fan of Warner Bros. but I’m starting to really dislike this whole project. It would be smart on their part to retool the script and fix the issues fans have.
Keanu Reeves Also In The Mix For Akira
Now this is more like it! HeatVision reports that Keanu Reeves (Point Break, Speed) is meeting with Warner Bros. and director Albert Hughes for the lead role in Akira. He would play Kaneda the leader of a biker gang in the re-envisioning of the classic anime/manga. Reeves has a decent relationship with Warner Bros. as he starred in the very successful Matrix franchise. He is currently playing a samurai in 47 Ronin for Universal. One of the sticking points had been it would be set in Manhattan and not Tokyo. So when an all white casting list was released it sparked a bit of anger from fans. Having Keanu in the lead role could help as he does have an Asian background but hopefully the studio does hire Japanese actors in supporting roles. What attracts me most about Reeves is that he actually rides motorcycles so he would look authentic on Kaneda’s iconic bike. Granted no offer has been made yet.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT KEANU REEVES IN AKIRA?
RUMOR: Cruise, Reeves & Depp In The Running For Robocop?
MovieHole is claiming rumblings of possible candidates for MGM’s Robocop remake with José Padilha (Elite Squad 1-2) set to direct. They include some big names such as Tom Cruise, Keanu Reeves and Johnny Depp. I’d call bullshit on this rumor but I could see any of these actors in the role of Alex Murphy. I’d rather see Cruise in the film as it would be pretty shocking to see him killed on screen then resurrected as a cyborg cop. Of course this could totally false as all three actors have upcoming films about to shoot but it’s still interesting to think one of these actors could be the next Robocop.
47 Ronin Starts Production March 14th
Universal has announced that 47 Ronin starts production on March 14th with a November 11th 2012 release date.
Universal Starts Casting 47 Ronin, Could The Wolverine Be In Trouble?
Variety reports that Universal has starting hiring the Japanese cast for Carl Rinsch’s 47 Ronin. They include Tadanobu Asano (Thor), Hiroyuki Sanada (Sunshine, Last Samurai), Rinko Kikuchi (Brothers Bloom, Babel) and Kou Shibasaki (Battle Royale). Based on the legendary tale of the 47 ronin (masterless samurai) who give their lives to take revenge for their master’s death. Keanu Reeves is set to play the lead in the film which will be shot in 3D and will be released on November 11th 2012.
I’ll be interested to see if Darren Aronofsky will be able to gather enough Japanese talent to fill roles in The Wolverine. As Ronin seems to be already hiring some heavy weights and a few I had pegged to get roles in Wolverine. There are plenty of roles in this epic and could drain Japan dry of authentic actors. Darren and Fox might have done some serious damage to their possible candidate choices by waiting until the end of awards season to begin casting.
RUMOR: Keanu Confirms Two More Matrix Films & Will Smith In Hood?
AICN news is reporting from a source who heard Keanu Reeves speak on the current status of projects from the Wachowskis. He went on to confirm two more Matrix films have treatments written. The directing duo have locked in Will Smith for Hood. Their fututristic take on Robin Hood which Reeves says Warner Bros. bought for $5 Million. Curiously enough there is no mention of their gestating project CN-9. While I’m interested in anything involving the Wachowskis I’m not how of much this is true.
“Says he met the Wachowski’s (no emphasis on the word brothers), for lunch over Christmas and stated that they had completed work on a two picture script treatment that would see him return to the world of the Matrix as Neo. Says the brothers have met with Jim Cameron to discuss the pro’s and con’s of 3D and are looking to deliver something which has never been seen again. Keanu stated that he still has an obligation to the fans to deliver a movie worthy of the title “The Matrix” and he swears this time that the treatment will truly revolutionise the action genre like the first movie. Wachowski’s are working on a movie called Cloud Atlas at the moment, once that concludes they will talk again.”
“Wachowski’s had just sold the most expensive script in history to Warner Brothers. a modern futuristic take on the legend of Robin Hood. Says he understands WB paid $5 million for the rights and that from what the Wachowski’s have told him, it will be an action movie that would have the same impact visually and technically that Terminator 2 had. Confirmed that Will Smith has agreed to headline the picture.”
UPDATE: This story has been proven as being completely false.
Carl Rinsch Ditches Logan’s Run For 47 Ronin, Coming 2012
HeatVision reports director Carl Rinsch has dropped the Logan’s Run for 47 Ronin which will star Keanu Reeves. Universal is now eager to bring 47 Ronin into production and has set it’s relese dte for November 21st 2012. The movie is based on the Japanese tale of the legendary 47 Ronin who seek revenge after the death of their master. Many of the Ronin give their lives in the process. Reeves will play one of 47 disgraced samurai. Described as stylized version of the story. Incorporating elements from “Lord of The Rings” with gritty violence like what was seen in “Gladiator”. Set in Japan during the winter of 1702, the film has epic written all over it.
Rinsch had been lined up to direct the Alien prequels for Fox with Ridley Scott’s blessing before the studio changed their mind and asked Ridley to return. He’s best known for his commercial work but a made splash with his short film The Gift. This is the fourth director to jump ship from Logan’s Run previously Bryan Singer, Robert Schwentke (Red) and Joseph Kosinski (Tron Legacy) had been attached.
CINEMA INVASION 