More on Zombie's Stay at the Grindhouse

Since yesterday marked Rob Zombie's 41st birthday, it seems only logical to celebrate with more news on his contribution to the hotly anticipated film Grindhouse. To recap, the film proper will consist of two features produced in the grindhouse exploitation tradition of the 1970s: Planet Terror by Robert Rodriguez and Death Proof by Quentin Tarantino. As I mentioned previously, one of the fake trailers that will be inserted between the features is to be directed by Rob Zombie and will be promoting a fictitious film called Werewolf Women of the SS. Jeez, how can you not love that title?



Fangoria has just announced the addition of other actors for the trailer, some of whom are veterans of grindhouse-style cinema. Sybil Danning (star of many a trashy film, most notably The Howling II) and Udo Kier (from Andy Warhol's Dracula, Suspiria, and The Story of O) will be appearing. Joining them will be some veterans of Zombie's last two films including Bill Moseley (also of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2), Tom Towles (of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, and the 1990 remake of Night of the Living Dead), and Sheri Moon Zombie (a.k.a. Mrs. Zombie). According to the director, Werewolf Women of the SS "is the story of Hitler's plan to create a race of superhuman werewolf women to win the war -- based on actual documents found in Hitler's bunker."

Apparently, Nicolas Cage will still be appearing as the insidious Fu Manchu. Last time I posted on this subject one commenter scoffed at this notion, siting the fact that the character is still under copyright. True enough, but I imagine a project with Quentin Tarantino attached certainly has the clout and the cash to acquire the rights. Even without the actual clearance, there is an interesting precedent in the graphic novel The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill. The comic features a character who is very clearly supposed to be Fu Manchu, but writer Moore side-steps the copyright issue by never referring to him by name. The question is not "How can they use Fu Manchu," but rather "What does Fu Manchu have to do with Werewolf Women?" I guess we'll find out when the movie hits theaters on April 6.