Curtis Hanson is an established, well-respected filmmaker. Gerard Butler has yet to prove himself in any kind of capacity that doesn’t involve the gym. Nevertheless, the actor is attached to Hanson’s Mavericks, a biopic of surf, wait for it, maverick Jay Moriarity. Kind of life the James Dean of the surfing world, Moriarity died at 22 years jumping off a cliff into the water.
Butler will play Rick “Frosty” Hesson, Moriarity’s real-life mentor. Something like the Burgess Meredith’s Mick from the sound of things. Walden Media is producing the film, so those kin of cliches are to be expected. Maybe there’ll even be a magical wardrobe or something like that. Who knows?
That said, Hanson has always been a solid filmmaker, even in his misses (see In Her Shoes). Chances are he’ll be able to squeeze drama out of this tale and maybe even some acting out of Butler. Well, let’s not get crazy. The role of Moriarity has not yet been cast. [The Playlist]
Do you like Hanson’s work? Butler’s?