Hugo Weaving Tracks Down 'The Wolfman'
Filed under: Classics, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Casting, Mystery & Suspense, Universal, Remakes and Sequels
There are casting announcements that make you howl with despair (I'm looking at you, Wolverine) and there are ones that restore your faith in the magic of movies. This is one of those. Variety has announced that Hugo Weaving will be bringing his deep and scary voice to Universal's upcoming remake of The Wolfman, and taking on the role of Detective Aberline. (Cue all the Matrix, "Evening, Mr. Talbot" jokes as Aberline hunts Talbot across the moors.)
Weaving rounds out an already impressive cast of Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt, and Anthony Hopkins. I know for many, the thought of touching those classic monster movies is complete sacrilege, but if you are going to do a remake, it doesn't get any better than this. Hopefully, Mark Romanek's departure is the only calamity to befall this production and it make a painless transformation (ha ha) to the big screen.
The only flaw remaining is that February release date. I'm glad studios are now realizing people like to see good films in all the months of the year, but The Wolfman really ought to command an October or November release. The atmosphere is just ripe for some Gothic horror. And some of us don't want to see the 25th Saw installment.









Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-22-2008 @ 12:10PM
Moo said...
I am still opposed to all remakes, but this cast looks very good. I'll see it for Weaving's voice alone.
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2-23-2008 @ 12:33AM
Crowjane said...
Thanks for distancing yourself from all the awful Agent Smith and werewolf puns that keep greeting this casting announcement. ;) I agree that in general this looks like it's trying to be a cut above the average unimaginative remake. The director change is worrying, but if the script is good and the cast perform up to their usual standard of excellence, I can live with pedestrian direction. As for the February release date, I actually think it's a good idea, suggesting the film is neither an F/X driven popcorn flick (ie a standard summer release) or a mindless splatterfest churned into production to make a quick buck (ie the average Halloween release). A little movie called Silence of the Lambs opened with little fanfare in February 1991, and made quite an impression even though it was a sequel and a substantial deviation from the novel it was based on. Of course Joe Johnston is no Jonathan Demme, but I'm still hoping for the best.
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