Like it or not, Spike Lee's remake of Chan-wook Park's Oldboy is happening. Whether it's actually a remake of the Korean film or a re-adaptation of the original manga remains to be seen, but I am hopeful for the latter. Both films are about a man who is kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years without explanation. Upon release, he sets out to find those responsible and take revenge.
Josh Brolin will play the lead, while the villain role has been tossed between a couple names, including Clive Owen, who I was hoping for. Well, the role has official been filled and I could not be happier with the choice - Sharlto Copley. The South African wow'ed us with his acting/action chops in District 9 (his first acting role!) and showed his funny side in The A-Team.
I cannot say enough about Sharlto, I adore the man and am thrilled he landed this role. According to Deadline, he will play "Adrian Pryce, a mysterious billionaire trying to destroy the life of Joe Douchett (Brolin)." The film begins shooting this September.
In other Sharlto news, he also joined Open Grave, a film about a man who wakes up in the pit full of rotting bodies with no idea how he got there. Unfortunately, it's being made by the director of Apollo 18 but I'll watch Copley in anything.
Just for fun, here is Sharlto, on the set of District 9, doing his Ed Norton impersonation:
