Action sequels which earn almost $400 million can only beget their own follow-ups, so don’t be surprised when you read, in Deadline, that Fox has secured Liam Neeson for Taken 3. You know what might turn heads? That the studio would pay him $20 million (or close) to return. No one wants a Taken sequel that badly.
Because there is not a soul who finds themselves concerned with plotting on this title, it’s only of mild interest that, when confirming the first seeds of development in October, co-writer Mark Kamen had said the action would “go in another direction.” With Fox now trying to lock Famke Janssen and Maggie Grace, who’s to say where it all heads. More importantly, who cares.
Well, except for the man who’s soon to cash a $20 million check.
Also from Deadline is news that two of England’s finest young actors, Jack Huston (Not Fade Away, Boardwalk Empire) and Toby Kebbell (The East, War Horse), are doing reads for the upcoming Frankenstein. Its central position, Igor, has been taken by Daniel Radcliffe — and the monster job remains unfilled — so this pair are up for the titular part of Dr. Victor Frankenstein (given a “Von,” for some good measure), here reimagined by screenwriter Max Landis (Chronicle).
Deadline expect this actors’ search to wind down soon; it’s to Fox’s fortune that neither choice would at all be a misstep. Paul McGuigan (Push) will direct, presumably with cameras rolling before the year’s end.
At THR, some big news (as far as these things go) regarding Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day has come in. Filling a titular part of its own, the project has secured Australian newcomer Ed Oxenbould to play the child who, right from Judith Viorst-penned children’s classic, has a bad mood and wants to live in Australia as some source of comfort.
Lisa Cholodenko (the original director) wrote an adaptation with Rob Lieber, the final result of which Miguel Arteta (Cedar Rapids, Youth in Revolt) will direct, with Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner playing the boy’s parents. Disney have the title scheduled to enter production in a few months’ time.
Finally, on a smaller scale, TheWrap tell us Kristen Stewart has a fine co-star in her future. Boarding the Guantanamo drama Camp X-Ray as a second lead is Peyman Moaadi, who gave an unforgettable turn in A Separation and, here, is seemingly asked for more raw emotion. First outlined earlier in the month, the project — written and directed by Peter Sattler, making his debut for executive producer David Gordon Green — follows a young woman, Cole, whose desire to escape a small-town life through military enlistment is mitigated by her positioning as a guard at Guantanamo Bay. Despite bearing the contempt of those she watches over, Cole winds up bonding with an eight-year prisoner, Ali, as well as a fellow guard; she’s to be played by Joseph Julian Soria (Filly Brown).
Camp X-Ray is to start filming this summer.
Are you up for Taken 3? How do these other casting items affect any established anticipation?