RZA Talks 'The Last Dragon' Remake and Rihanna
Filed under: Action, Casting, Fandom, Remakes and Sequels
The only thing, and I mean the only thing that is keeping me from completely disowning the remake of The Last Dragon is that RZA (the driving force behind the flick) seems to have a real love for the project. MTV recently spoke with the rapper and he told them that he's currently trying to get pop star Rihanna to star in the role originally made famous by Prince protege, Vanity. RZA tells MTV, "That's the one I'm rooting for, we're keeping that same concept of the girl being in the music business."The original film centered on a young martial arts lover by the name of Leroy who falls in love with a music TV host (played by Vanity), while battling a local bad-ass by the name of Sho'nuff, and searching for the mystical 'Glow' (a mystical energy that can make you the greatest fighter alive.) But just because RZA has a soft spot for the original flick doesn't mean that he doesn't have some changes in mind. The actor/rapper told MTV, "One thing I don't think the old movie captured - because they couldn't capture it, [there] wasn't a lot of CGI - was I think some of the action sequences could've been cooler. But this one, we're not lacking that. You will definitely have some crazy action sequences."
John Davis of Davis Entertainment and Kerry Gordy (son to the original film's producer, and Motown creator, Berry Gordy) will co-produce along with RZA, and Dallas Jackson (head of the label, DJ Classicz) has already written a script. Back in October, Monika brought us the news that Samuel L. Jackson would be taking over the role of Sho'nuff (originally played by the late Julius Carry), but so far, there is no word on casting; namely who would be taking over for Taimak in the lead.
Sound off below on The Last Dragon remake, and tell us who you would like to see go on the quest for 'The Glow'...
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
12-23-2008 @ 5:43PM
Brian said...
As long as they keep it as campy as the original, I have no complaints.
This was one of the best Pseudo kung fu movies EVER, and one in which I don't cringe when they talk about remaking it.
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12-24-2008 @ 3:31AM
Dj Trademark said...
The RZA and The Last Dragon.............the most perfect comination!! Only the RZA could add that signature martial arts feel!!! GO RZA!!
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12-24-2008 @ 9:02AM
Happy1 said...
TAIMAK would generate alot of money for this movie!
Imagine....26 million back in 1985!
Taimak could triple that amount of $$$ now!
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12-26-2008 @ 5:44PM
Rebecca said...
Taimak should play the role he looks even better than he did 23 years ago. He still has passion for the martial arts. Definitely Taimak, that's such a no-brainer!
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2-23-2009 @ 10:42PM
tinker2b said...
NO WAY!! It's a remake! We want fresh and new. I am a huge fan of the original and I loved him in it but I wouldn't want to see him play the same character in the remake. Maybe he could play a different role like adding a twist maybe making him a bad guy like the record producer or something.
I wanna see some new blood. I can totally see Pooch Hall from the tv show "The Game" playing Leroy Green.
Sorry Taimak. Pooch Hall to me seems to posses all the qualities of Leroy.
12-27-2008 @ 3:54AM
I Love This Movie said...
If I were casting....
Sho Nuff:Dave Chappelle:)
Laura Charles : Rihanna
Eddie Arkadian: James Alexander
Angela Viracco: Kristin Chenoweth
Richie Green:Bobbie J Thompson
Dadddy Green: James Picken's Jr
Mamma Green: Vivica A Fox
Leroy Green: An unknown but somebody fit and fine
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12-31-2008 @ 2:17PM
last dragon fan said...
I agree with vivica for mama green but I don't think the casting for this movie should be a popularity contest cuz these characters fit their roles so perfectly.It should be based on their acting ability & ableness to capture the originals characters and I think tatyana would be able to capture laura charles & she's pretty & can sing.Christina milian may not be the "it" girl right now but she can act,sing & is pretty.Megan good is hot & can act.Stacy dash is beautiful & so is keisha knight.Plus it'd be cool to cast her & see if anyone notices she was in the original.Corbin Blue all the way for bruce leroy but if taimak could still be in it that'd be even better.lol
2-08-2009 @ 3:54PM
maleedad said...
yessss...dave chapelle would be hilarious, but why hasn't anyone recrommend ''beyonce'' as laura charles, i don't like her but she's perfect, and good one w/ james alexander
2-24-2009 @ 4:02PM
shortstuff09 said...
Leroy Green...Pooch Hall BAMM! Perfect!
12-31-2008 @ 2:09PM
Last dragon fan said...
Loved the original.Would prefer them to just put the original back in theaters but if not I think Corbin Blue is the only one right now who could capture the personality & look of bruce leroy.Bow wow of course for the younger brother.Busta,snoopdogg or samuel for shonuff.Vanity is untouchable but if we have to get anyone else I don't think christina milian would be bad or Stacy dash,tatyana ali,Megan good,beyonce or keisha knight who played the younger sister in the original.Wouldnt it be nice if the beauty was a darkskinned girl for once?
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2-08-2009 @ 3:55PM
maleedad said...
ummm...corbin bleu is a fag and snoop is to skinny
1-01-2009 @ 10:36PM
Michael M. Foster said...
You want a Leroy...Look up David Douglas...he is it
Look him up on YouTube or IMDB ( David Douglas (ll) )
You'll see
He was one of the best Martial Artist ever and is now an actor in Hollywood
Good Luck
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1-02-2009 @ 5:34PM
Armmond said...
I agree with corbin and christina milian or megan good . but not sam. I think Steve Harvey as big daddy greene. Taimak could be the master that teaches corbin .Eddie Arkadian: Jason Alexander.Tichina Arnold as mama greene. that's what I have for now
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1-05-2009 @ 12:22PM
ricky edwards said...
busta would be perfect for the role of sho nuff.the lead part should of course go to ME!
I AM THE LAST DRAGON
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1-11-2009 @ 8:32PM
Nathaniel said...
Khalil Kain should of play as Bruce Leroy
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1-18-2009 @ 7:07AM
tmiller said...
daddy greene - Steve Harvey
mama greene - Tchina Arnold
richie greene - Bow Wow
eddie arkadian - Joe Pesci
laura charles - Tatyana Ali
shonuff - nail on the head with sammy jack
bruce leroy- all i got to say is what part can Will Smith not play?
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1-22-2009 @ 2:59PM
Divine Prince said...
i'd love to play this role. The Last Dragon was and still is my all time favorite movie. It's probably the driving force that started my martial arts career. If there are any casting calls please post
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1-28-2009 @ 1:26PM
Malik Saldana said...
I think what you got so far is on the money as for leroy well I hope you have casting cause I would like to play that role. I've been doing this my whole life it's a family thing. Hope to hear from you.
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1-31-2009 @ 3:28PM
Theo said...
So far the casting of Samuel L. Jackson as Sho' Nuff is the only thing that doesn't have me throwing up in my mouth about this one. I just fear that they're going to kick out some glossy Hollywood crap full of CGI and big names that lacks the campy humor and heart of the original, and the fact that the head of a record label wrote the script is not making me feel any better. As for the rest of the cast, can Rihanna act? Because Vanity, as coked-out as she was, was pretty decent. Leroy Green is probably going to be an unknown; all I ask is that he be finer than all hell and know his martial arts (to whomever suggested that dopey Justin Guarini knock-off from High School Musical, UM, DO NOT WANT), because Taimak was a terrible actor (again, that was half the fun), but he surely handled his business on those two fronts.
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2-08-2009 @ 3:55PM
maleedad said...
i don't know how a remake can top the original, who can replace ''taimak'', laura charles can be easily be replaced by beyonce, not rihanna...i don't like neither one but beyonce matches laura charles character so perfectly and she already acts in many films, i think d-bo from ''friday'' could play sho-nuff and bobby lee from mad tv could be one of the three chinese fortune cookie salesman, but who could replace bruce leroy?...hhhmmmmmmm
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