We Need a New Capone: Nicolas Cage Bails on 'Untouchables' Prequel
Filed under: Action, Drama, Paramount, Newsstand, Remakes and Sequels
Frankly I don't even know if this is good news or bad news: Nicolas Cage has decided to bail on the Untouchables prequel that Paramount and producer Art Linson are planning to put together. The original plan was for Cage to play a "young" Al Capone, but Variety indicates that "scheduling issues" will now prevent that from happening. (The paper also says that Cage's next movie is unknown, so I guess we know what "scheduling issues" actually means.) One piece of good news is that Gerard Butler has been cast as the "young" Jimmy Malone -- the character played by Sean Connery in Brian De Palma's 1987 near-masterpiece.Or perhaps it's just that Nicolas Cage feels like giving us a break from his face for a few months. Nothing against the Oscar-winning actor (indeed, I'm a big fan of the guy), but he's already got National Treasure 2 coming in December, and the last few years have been littered with titles like Next and Ghost Rider and The Wicker Man and World Trade Center and Lord of War and The Weather Man. Heck, half of 'em are damn good movies, but there is such a thing as massive over-exposure. Or hell, maybe Nick's just trying to be the next Michael Caine.
In related near-news, it looks like Brian De Palma is in talks to direct The Untouchables: Capone Rising, but I'm not sure if he's signed the deal just yet. It'd be pretty cool if he did. Here's hoping they can wring a fresh screenplay out of David Mamet. THEN I'd be really excited for this movie. Actually the screenplay seems to come from David Rabe and the team of Koppelman and Levien. Not bad, not bad. But the question of the day, of course, is this: Who would YOU cast as a prequel-style Al Capone? (My vote is for Timothy Olyphant.)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-25-2007 @ 11:49AM
kjharrigan said...
Timothy Olyphant, are you kidding? Capone is a fairly short, stocky ITALIAN, Olyphant is none of those. Solid actor, love him on Deadwood, but totally wrong for the role. How about Nestor Carbonell from Lost, if he added the weight like DeNiro.
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5-25-2007 @ 11:49AM
brian said...
Ahhhhhh......Timothy Olyphant...Scott, that's BRILLIANT! Seth Bullock's sneer...that guy from Go's hidden sinister other-ness...man, I have to say, to see Olyphant do a young Al Capone would be like seeing...I don't know, but let's sure hope that happens. Good call-
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5-25-2007 @ 3:14PM
Tina said...
I think they should look at Joaquin Phoenix. He would make a great Capone and would give this movie star power. With the charismatic Butler playing Jimmy Malone, these two will burn up the screen.
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5-26-2007 @ 11:01PM
Mario Gomes said...
I never understood why Hollywood never bothered to research the real life of Capone and roaring twenties Chicago. It's cast of characters and events far surpass the Hollywood made up bull crap.
The first Untouchables movie, while action packed, was totally full of made up lies.
Mario Gomes
www.myalcaponemuseum.com
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5-28-2007 @ 1:57AM
Calimum said...
I think DANNY NUCCI would be a perfect "baby DeNiro" for this film. People remember him from Crimson Tide (radio operator) and Titanic (Leo's friend Fabrizio). He's about the same age as Butler, and about equally recognized in USA, having been a TV actor. My $0.02 I think it would work.
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5-28-2007 @ 1:44PM
PIslander said...
This potential film improved 100% by an aging Cage stepping away.
MANY of us viewers will not see a film he is in because he's creepy, sorta plays himself over and over again.
Besides, Cage is about 20 years TOO OLD for the role.
Surely there is the ideal short, round, thick-featured actor that fills the bill completely.
And, that actor will have to have the same screen presence as Gerry Butler to even be seen.
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5-28-2007 @ 7:26PM
antonio said...
They need a "young" Capone. Sheesh, Cage is about the same age that Capone was when he died! Most of Capone's badass life was when he was in his mid to late 20's. He was 30 (!) when he orchestrated the St. Valentine's day shooting. It always bugged me that they got DeNiro for that role because he was too old.
Some of the guys from "Band of Brothers" might make a good Capone (also nice to put an unknown in the lead spot, especially with DePalma directing). For instance:
Kirk Acevedo (born in Brooklyn too!) might be a bit tall, but he's got that "I can kill you" dead look:
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0805661/Ss/0805661/1DONafN05.jpg.html?path=pgallery&path_key=Acevedo,%20Kirk
Frank John Hughes (born in the Bronx!) - another good gangsta type (in the Sopranos now - minor role):
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/hh/0400606/HH/0400606/iid_1008227.jpg.html?path=pgallery&path_key=Hughes,%20Frank%20John
Ron Livingston - maybe a bit pretty, but I bet could play a good bad guy - kinda looks a little like Capone:
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/granitz/5760/Events/5760/RonLivings_Sapp_12408939_400.jpg.html?path=pgallery&path_key=Livingston,%20Ron
But certainly not Cage! Phew, I'm glad he's not on board. I love the guy, but enough is enough already. Cage, take a vacation.
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