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The Green Hornet is an upcoming 2011 action-comedy film, based on the character of the same name created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker. Directed by Michel Gondry, the film stars Seth Rogen in the title role, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Evan Goldberg. Supporting actors include Jay Chou as Kato, Christoph Waltz, Cameron Diaz, Edward James Olmos, David Harbour and Tom Wilkinson.
The film will be released in the United States and United Kingdom on
January 14, 2011 and in Australia on January 20, 2011, which will also
include RealD Cinema and IMAX 3D.
[edit] Premise
Britt Reid (Seth Rogen), the son of wealthy newspaper publisher James Reid (Tom Wilkinson), is a ne'er do well playboy who inherits a media empire after his father dies. One day, he meets an employee named Kato (Jay Chou),
who is more than he appears. After realizing that Kato secretly has a
cache of weapons and utilities, Britt decides that the two should become
crimefighters, taking on the identity of the Green Hornet. With the
help of his new secretary, Lenore Case (Cameron Diaz), Britt discovers that a man named Chudnofsky (Christoph Waltz)
controls the city's criminal underworld. Meanwhile, Chudonfsky has
united all of the gangs of the city and seeks the Green Hornet,
believing him to be a direct threat to his elaborate grand plan.
- Seth Rogen, as Britt Reid/The Green Hornet, a wealthy newspaper publisher who is secretly the masked crimefighter The Green Hornet.
- Jay Chou, as Kato, the Green Hornet's valet and sidekick, who is expertly proficient in martial arts.
- Christoph Waltz as Benjamin Chudnofsky, a gangster who plans to join all of the crime families of Los Angeles together to organize a "super-mafia."[1] Nicolas Cage
was originally cast, but dropped out during the first week of filming
over creative differences with Rogen and director Michel Gondry. "The Green Hornet
was something that I wanted to do," the actor explained, "I think
Michel Gondry is very talented and I had hoped it would work but I think
Seth Rogen and Michel had a different take on the character."[2]
- Cameron Diaz, as Lenore "Casey" Case, the love interest of Reid.[1]
- Tom Wilkinson
as James Reid, Britt's wealthy father and successful newspaper
publisher, who does not approve of Britt's playboy lifestyle. James is
killed, leading Britt to inherit his newspaper empire.
- Edward James Olmos as Mike Axford.
- Analeigh Tipton as Anna Lee.
- David Harbour as Scailon
Cameo appearances include Dave Chappelle, who previously collaborated with Gondry on his documentary Dave Chappelle's Block Party, Van Williams, and Anvil.
[edit] Development
In October 1992 it was announced that Leisure Concepts Inc. was developing a film adaptation of The Green Hornet[3] with Universal Pictures.[4] By September 1993, Chuck Pfarrer had finished the screenplay.[5] Rich Wilkes was hired to rewrite Pfarrer's script, which resulted in George Clooney signing a pay-or-play contract, but he faced scheduling conflicts with The Peacemaker. Clooney eventually dropped out in December 1995, and Greg Kinnear was reported to be his replacement. By May 1996, Jason Scott Lee had signed on to co-star as Kato.[6] Universal hired music video director Michael Gondry to helm in January 1997 for his initial full-length directional film debut.[7] Gondry rewrote the Wilkes screenplay with Edward Neumeier,[8] while Lawrence Gordon and Lloyd Levin signed on to produce.[7] Mark Wahlberg was offered the lead role, but the film languished in development hell and Gondry eventually left The Green Hornet[9] in 1998.[8]
In April 2000, Universal entered early negotiations with Jet Li to star as Kato with a $5.2 million pay-or-play salary against 5% of the film's gross. Dark Horse Entertainment and Charles Gordon joined Larry Gordon and Lloyd Levin as producers.[10] Universal courted the lead role for Wahlberg once again, but he faced scheduling conflicts with Planet of the Apes.[11] Christopher McQuarrie rewrote the script,[12] but Li lost interest in favor of The One.[13] After spending about $10 million in development since the early-1990s, Universal put The Green Hornet in turnaround in November 2001. Paramount and Columbia Pictures showed interest in picking up Universal's option, but Miramax Films immediately won the bidding war that same month for $3 million.[14] Miramax announced in July 2002 that they were in early-development for The Green Hornet with a possible 2004 release date.[15] In May 2003 the studio was working with automobile companies on product placement
opportunities for the Black Beauty. As part of the deal, Miramax would
receive its "hero car" and $35 million in additional marketing. The car
company that wound have landed the deal would be given the chance to
help develop The Green Hornet, considering a script had yet to be
written and a director was not hired for the planned 2005 release. "The
film warrants the biggest marketing budget in film history," a Miramax
executive commented in the press release.[16]
In February 2004 Miramax hired cult filmmaker/comic book writer and Green Hornet fan Kevin Smith
to write and direct the film. "I dig the fact that he kicked off a run
of billionaire playboys who decided to put on a mask and fight crime,"
Smith continued, "and that he was Batman
before there was a Batman," Smith commented. "I always said I'd never
do a superhero film, based on my limited experience writing on Superman Lives and having to answer to the studio, Jon Peters, the comics company and eventually a director. Then there's a fandom
that gets up in arms if you even try to stray from their character.
Here, there is simplicity in the character and the situation."[17] Miramax president Harvey Weinstein choose Smith based on their previous collaborations with View Askew Productions. "Kevin knows more about comic characters, books and the creative process than anyone else I have ever met," Weinstein stated. Green Hornet creator George W. Trendle's son, George Trendle, Jr., was also set to serve as one of the executive producers.[17] Smith approached Jake Gyllenhall for the lead role in March 2004,[18] and finished the first draft of the script in November 2004. He later rewrote the script after receiving advice from Quentin Tarantino,[19] but Miramax put The Green Hornet on indefinite hold over Smith's concerns about directing an action film.[20] Smith plans to have his screenplay released as a limited series, published by Dynamite Entertainment. The cover art team will include Alex Ross, John Cassaday, Jae Lee, and David Finch.[21]
In March 2007, producer Neal H. Moritz, who had been trying to acquire the film rights to the character for years, obtained the rights and optioned them to Columbia Pictures.[22] In July 2007 Seth Rogen, in addition to starring in the lead role, was hired to co-write the script with frequent collaborator Evan Goldberg. Columbia also hired Rogen as an executive producer for The Green Hornet.[23] Rogen and Goldberg began writing the script in August 2007, after having watched all of the episodes from The Green Hornet television series. Golberg compared the tone of the screenplay to the Indiana Jones franchise, 48 Hrs., and the Lethal Weapon film series.[24] A June 25, 2010, release date was announced,[25] and Stephen Chow
signed on to direct and co-star as Kato in September 2008. Chow, a fan
of the TV show as a kid, explained that "the idea of stepping into Bruce Lee’s
shoes as Kato is both humbling and thrilling, and to get the chance to
direct the project as my American movie debut is simply a dream come
true."[26] Chow dropped out as director the following December over creative differences, but was still set to play Kato.[27]
Columbia hired Michel Gondry to direct in February 2009, after
impressing Columbia presidents Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach with his pitch.[28] Gondry had previously been involved with the Green Hornet when Universal Pictures was planning their film in 1997.[7]
Chow dropped out as Kato in July 2009 over scheduling conflicts with[29] with Tai Chi.[30] He was replaced with Taiwanese singer-actor Jay Chou.[31]
[edit] Production
Producer Neal H. Moritz considered filming The Green Hornet in Detroit, Michigan; New York City and Louisiana, but ultimately choose Los Angeles, California,
as the primary location shooting. "Ultimately, we made the decision,
and thankfully the studio agreed with us, that the creative positives of
shooting in Los Angeles outweighed the tax incentives offered to us elsewhere," Moritz said. Principal photography began at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California on September 2, 2009 for one week. Filming then moved to Chinatown for scenes featuring Kato's apartment. Through November, other locations included Sun Valley, Holmby Hills, Bel-Air, Hawthorne and various locations downtown, including City Hall and the Los Angeles Times Building, which stands in for the newspaper where Britt Reid works.[32]
Danny Elfman was originally signed on to compose the film's soundtrack, but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. James Newton Howard is currently speculated to replace him.[33]
The production modified 29 cars to portray the Green Hornet's luxurious supercar.[34] The 29 cars were a mix of 1964, 1965 and 1966 Imperials
modified to resemble (but not exactly duplicate) the two 1966 Imperials
used to portray the Black Beauty in the 1966 television series. The
producers turned down product placement deals with both BMW and General Motors in favor of using the classic Imperial.
[edit] Release
Columbia replaced the film's June 26, 2010, release date with Grown Ups, which moved The Green Hornet to July 9, 2010.[35] Sony then pushed the film for a December 22, 2010, release date, before the decision was made to release The Green Hornet as a 3-D film, pushing the release date to January 14, 2011.
In July 2009, Sony Pictures presented a panel at San Diego Comic-Con International, where Seth Rogen and director Michel Gondry unveiled the first look for the Black Beauty.[36] The first trailer was released online on June 24, 2010, and was attached to screenings of Grown Ups, Salt, The Last Airbender, The Other Guys, The Expendables, Machete, Resident Evil: Afterlife, Jackass 3D, Red and Skyline.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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