With 2008’s Valkyrie being his last directing effort, Bryan Singer is in full prep mode for his next feature, Jack the Giant Killer. We announced three villains in the form of Bill Nighy, Stanley Tucci, and John Kassir a few days ago. Deadline now reports we have a lead. While Andrew Garfield (who decided on Spider-Man) and Aaron Johnson were both rumored, it is Nicholas Hoult who will play our lead. Breaking out in About a Boy, the actor since starred in Clash of the Titans and A Single Man, as well the upcoming X-Men: First Class, in which Singer produced.
Jack the Giant Killer is “a scary revisionist take on the Jack and the Beanstalk mythology and Hoult will play a farmer who leads an expedition into the giants’ kingdom to rescue a kidnapped princess.”
In addition to being directed by Bryan Singer, the script has been written by Mark Bomback, Darren Lemke and Oscar winner Christopher McQuarrie, a remake of the 1962 film of the same name. Production was delayed due to financing, but a recent green light, along with this news indicates it’s getting back on track, as shooting is set to begin in March, with financing coming from Warner Bros., New Line and Legendary Pictures.
What do you think about Hoult as our lead?