Russell Crowe

Russell Crowe in Early Talks to Star in DRACULA Re-Imagining, HARKER

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 10th, 2012 at 7:57 am

Russell Crowe is reportedly in early talks to star in Jaume Collet-Serra’s Dracula re-imagining, Harker.  As we reported last year, Lee Shipman and Brian McGreevy‘s script changes Jonathan Harker from a lawyer to a Scotland Yard detective who’s trying to find who’s behind a series of grisly murders (Hint: It’s Dracula).  The project began to gain momentum, but then Warner Bros. moved Collet-Serra to the adaptation of Akira after Albert and Allen Hughes dropped off the project.  But Vulture reports that since Akira has run into budget issues (along with even less of a reason to exist after Chronicle), the studio may try to make Harker first and then move the director back to Akira.

Hit the jump for what could keep Crowe from hunting down Dracula.

Darren Aronofsky Wants Russell Crowe and Liam Neeson for His Biblical Epic NOAH

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: February 1st, 2012 at 7:50 pm

Coming off the success of Black Swan, director Darren Aronofsky wants to follow up with the most ambitious production of his career.  The film is Noah, an epic about the Biblical tale of Noah’s Ark with a price tag of $130 million.  You need a bankable star to get that kind of money.  Christian “Batman” Bale passed, and potential replacement Michael Fassbender is busy with his new fame and accolades.  Deadline hears that Aronofsky has finally found his Noah, and it is Russell Crowe.  The deal is not official yet, but the smart money is reportedly on Crowe.  Additionally, Aronofsky is said to be interested in offering another part to Liam Neeson.  The only other major role we know about is the villain of the movie who argues against Noah’s faith as he builds a massive ship to weather the impending flood.  As the physical embodiment of wisdom, I could see Neeson as the humanistic antagonist.

Paramount and New Regency want to start shooting Noah this summer for a 2013 release.  Hit the jump for more on the project.

Akiva Goldsman Lands Russell Crowe and Will Smith for Directorial Debut WINTER’S TALE

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: February 1st, 2012 at 11:53 am

Exactly one year ago today, we reported that Oscar-winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind) was set to make his directorial debut with an adaptation of Mark Helprin’s novel Winter’s Tale. The fantasy tells the story of a thief, a dying girl, and a flying white horse in 19th century and contemporary Manhattan. The $75 million film was set up at Warner Bros., but we’ve heard practically nothing about the project since that announcement. Apparently the film has been languishing at the studio over financial issues (why wouldn’t WB want to pay $75 million for a drama starring a flying horse?), but now Goldsman’s project has gained a considerable amount of steam with two casting coups: Russell Crowe and Will Smith. Hit the jump for more, including a synopsis of the novel.

Russell Crowe Talks MAN OF STEEL Fight Scene

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: October 19th, 2011 at 10:51 am

Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel is now deep into production, as evidenced by the many, many set photos that have leaked to the interwebs. Today we don’t have any set photos, but Russell Crowe has let loose a possibly spoilery detail. The actor plays Jor-el (Superman’s biological father, for the nerd-deficient), and earlier today he tweeted about a fight scene that he’s been filming with a certain cast member. Details of the scene in question could be considered potential spoilers, so I’ll keep it clean here on the front page. Hit the jump for the details.

Olivia Wilde Joins Ron Howard’s Racing Drama RUSH; Russell Crowe May Cameo as Richard Burton

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: October 4th, 2011 at 12:28 pm

Olivia Wilde has landed a key role in Ron Howard’s Formula One racing drama Rush. The film centers on the 1970s rivalry between Austrian driver Niki Lauda and British driver James Hunt. Daniel Brühl is set to play Lauda with Chris Hemsworth taking on the role of Hunt, and now Deadline reports that Wilde will play supermodel Suzy Miller. The model fell in love with and married Hunt, but soon thereafter she fell in love with Hunt’s close friend Richard Burton (yes, that Richard Burton). In a strange Three’s Company deal, Hunt and Burton came to an agreement wherein Burton would pay the $1 million divorce settlement for Hunt if Hunt let Miller go. The deal went through, and Burton and Miller eventually married.

Howard is apparently hoping to get Russell Crowe to take on the small role of Burton. No deal has been made, but Crowe may be able to fit a couple of days in for his A Beautiful Mind director in between filming Man of Steel and Les Miserables. If you missed what producer Brian Oliver told Steve about the racing drama, be sure to check out what he had to say here. He talked about the unusual filming schedule and revealed that Slumdog Millionaire director of photography Anthony Dod Mantle is handling the cinematography.

First Look at Russell Crowe in Costume as Jor-El in MAN OF STEEL

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: October 4th, 2011 at 12:05 pm

The first images of Russell Crowe all gussied up in his costume as Jor-El from Man of Steel have surfaced online. We don’t see him interacting with any other actors on set, but we do see Superman’s dad smoking a cigarette while wearing alien clothes. The costume actually looks pretty cool. He’s got an otherworldly-looking “S” on the front, and a super awesome cape. Crowe plays Superman’s biological father in Zack Snyder’s reboot, which has Henry Cavill set as the Man of Steel himself. Julia Ormond was originally set to play Superman’s biological mother Lara Lor-Von opposite Crowe, but she was recently replaced with Ayelet Zurer.

Hit the jump to see the images. The film also stars Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Antje Traue, Harry Lennix, and Christopher Meloni. Man of Steel opens June 14th, 2013.

Universal Sets LES MISERABLES Starring Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe for December 7, 2012 Release Date [Updated]

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: September 8th, 2011 at 4:16 pm

Prepare to get your Broadway on. Universal has set director Tom Hooper’s (The King’s Speech) adaptation of Les Miserables for a December 7, 2012 release date. Not only that, but Deadline’s report confirms that Russell Crowe will be starring as the nefarious Javert opposite Hugh Jackman’s Jean Valjean. This is quite an impressive roundup for the musical flick, and if any of the other casting rumors end up to be true it only gets better. William Nicholson (Elizabeth: The Golden Age) wrote the script based on Victor Hugo’s novel and the stage musical.

This news comes on the heels of word that production on James Mangold’s The Wolverine has been pushed back to next year. Mark Bomback is currently rewriting Christopher McQuarrie’s screenplay. Although I wasn’t the biggest fan of The King’s Speech, count me as one of those excited for this adaptation. Crowe’s no stranger to the music scene, as he takes his band “Russell Crowe and the Ordinary Fear of God” very seriously.

[Update: THR also reports that Helena Bonham Carter is now officially in talks to star in the film as Thenardier's greedy wife]

Anne Hathaway Up for LES MISERABLES and Other Casting Rumors [UPDATED]

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: August 29th, 2011 at 9:03 pm

Working Title is doing its very best to secure an A-list cast for the upcoming Les Miserables adaptation, leading with Hugh Jackman as Valjean.  It’s On The Grid reported last week the studio is courting Russell Crowe for Javert, Geoffrey Rush for Thenardier, and Helena Bonham Carter for Madame Thenardier, respectively.  The site also identified Hayden Panettiere, Miranda Cosgrove, Lucy Hale, and Emma Watson as candidates to play Eponine and Cosette, and suggested Amy Adams and Rebecca Hall were up for the role of Fantine.  Make of all that what you will.  Sorry to do this so soon, but I have to make it more complicated.  Broadway World [via The Playlist] hears Anne Hathaway is set to play Fantine, at the recommendation of Jackman.

Hathaway meets the aforementioned A-list requirement, and she sure can sing.  Of course she’s on the list.  It remains to be seen if the rumor will lead anywhere, but it is believable that the role is Hathaway’s if she wants it.  Director Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) is scheduled to shoot Les Miserables early next year, so we should receive a final cast list before the end of the year.  Read the synopsis of the Victor Hugo novel that led to the source musical after the jump. [Update: Entertainment Weekly confirms that Hathaway is in talks to play Fantine.]

Russell Crowe Joins Mark Wahlberg in Allen Hughes’ BROKEN CITY

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 8th, 2011 at 11:43 am

Russell Crowe will star opposite Mark Wahlberg in Allen Hughes’ noir drama Broken City.  As we previously reported, Wahlberg is playing an ex-cop turned private detective who is hired by the mayor (Wahlberg) to see if the mayor’s wife is cheating on him. When the wife’s lover ends up dead, the private detective becomes embroiled in the mayor’s scandalous affairs.  Deadline reports the “scandalous affairs” involves the mayor and some shady real-estate dealings.  I don’t know why crimes involving real estate make great noir tales, but they do.  I guess it goes to a corruption of the American dream of owning property.

Wahlberg recently wrapped shooting on Contraband, which is set to open on January 13, 2012.  Crowe is playing Jor-El in Man of Steel and recently shot RZA’s kung-fu flick The Man with the Iron Fists.  No start date has been announced for Broken City.  The film is budgeted at $60 million and comes from a 2008 Black List script by Brian Tucker.

Russell Crowe to Play Jor-El in MAN OF STEEL

by Jason Barr    Posted: June 15th, 2011 at 12:46 pm

Emerging from a group of names that included Sean Penn and Clive Owen, Russell Crowe has been tapped by Warner Bros. to take on the role of Superman’s biological father, Jor-El, in Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel. Variety confirms Crowe’s casting in the project which is set to begin production next month in Vancouver. While Jor-El’s level of involvement in David Goyer’s script is currently unknown, the “A-list” casting of the role harkens back to Marlon Brando’s turn as Kal-El’s father in Richard Donner’s original Superman.

Crowe joins a cast that already includes Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Kevin Costner, Michael Shannon and Diane Lane. The role of Jor-El’s wife, Lara, is still up in the air, although Dark Horizons reported earlier today that Crowe’s Gladiator co-star Connie Nielsen may have an offer for the gig on the table as I type. Man of Steel is currently eyeing a holiday 2012 release.

Russell Crowe Looks to Make His Feature Directorial Debut with 77

by Eytan Hirsch    Posted: April 25th, 2011 at 6:30 pm

After starring in acclaimed crime dramas such as LA Confidential and American Gangster, Russell Crowe now looks to be ready to jump into the director’s chair with a new 1970’s period crime drama called 77.  The movie is based on a story by LA Confidential writer James Ellroy and will be adapted by David Matthews.  Crowe also plans to star.

Deadline reports that the film will revolve around the unsolved homicide of an LAPD officer in 1974 and the ensuing nationally televised battle in South Central Los Angeles between the Symbionese Liberation Army and the LAPD, which included 50,000 rounds of gunfire.  The events will be told through two police partners, one black and one white.  Hit the jump for my thoughts on Crowe’s potential as a director.

Adam McKay Says He’s Met with Russell Crowe for THE BOYS; Admits Difficulty of Making Hard-R $100m Anti-Superhero Movie

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: March 29th, 2011 at 10:38 am

Director Adam McKay plans to make a radical departure from his comedies with Will Ferrell to direct an adaptation of Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson comic series The Boys.  The comic centers on a group of special agents who are tasked with policing the world’s superheroes and villains by any means necessary. McKay says that while he’s still finishing up the script, he’s already started meeting with actors including Russell Crowe for the role of the team’s leader, Billy Butcher:

“I’ve sat with some people. I really like the idea of Russell Crowe for [Billy] Butcher,” said McKay. “We met and had kind of an interesting meeting.”

Hit the jump for more on what McKay had to say about The Boys including the potential difficulty in getting it made.

THE NEXT THREE DAYS Blu-ray Review

by Andre Dellamorte    Posted: March 6th, 2011 at 8:00 am

Paul Haggis seems to have two gears as a filmmaker: thoughtful or sanctimonious. There’s no denying that he was one of the ingredients that made the Daniel Craig Bond films a step above the works that came before, and his In the Valley of Elah wasn’t a great film, but it was definitely an advance on Crash. Sanctimonious Haggis is the guy who made Crash, a very self-important film about how people relate in Los Angeles. Also in the “S” category is the writer of Million Dollar Baby. This is a guy who can’t help but dot the I’s and cross his T’s when it comes to spelling things out.

The most appealing thing about The Next Three Days was that Haggis was no longer making award bait, but a thriller with Russell Crowe playing the determined husband of Elizabeth Banks. Banks is convicted of murder and after all their appeals are denied, he figures the only way to get her out of jail is to break her out. This puts Haggis in more Bond mode, and with a great cast that also includes Olivia Wilde, Liam Neeson and Brian Dennehy. What better way for Haggis to not be weighed down with heady issues? And yet The Next Three Days bombed, and home video does it no favors. The review of The Next Three Days on Blu-ray follows after the jump.

THE NEXT THREE DAYS Review

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: November 18th, 2010 at 3:09 pm

If he’s not trying to cram a heavy-handed message about Important Things down his audience’s throat, it turns out that writer/director Paul Haggis can make a decent thriller.  The Next Three Days is a welcome departure for Haggis, who instead of preaching about race (Crash) or the Iraq War (In the Valley of Elah), crafts an exciting, prison-break film with a strong central performance from Russell Crowe.  While some may love it when a plan comes together, The Next Three Days shows how it can be far more exciting when a plan falls apart.

ROBIN HOOD Blu-ray Review

by Andre Dellamorte    Posted: September 29th, 2010 at 7:30 am

When Ridley Scott made Kingdom of Heaven, he ended it with King Richard the Lionhearted asking directions to Jerusalem, and on the commentary track for the director’s cut Scott suggested he had an idea for the sequel. It would be a Robin Hood story, but with his main character from KoH. That film wasn’t a hit, so when Ridley did get to the legend of Robin of Locksley, he had Russell Crowe as his lead. Russell Crowe is no spring chicken, and the decision to cast the 40+ actor as the sprightly archer seems off, but if you’re going to make a $200 Million dollar movie, that’s the sort of compromise that going to happen. Scott and Crowe are basically cashing in their Gladiator chips, by – after having a huge success – making the expensive “sorta same, sorta sequel” film.  My review of the Director’s Cut Blu-ray of Robin Hood follows after the jump.

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