Deadline confirms that Sharlto Copley has landed the villain role of Adrian Pryce in Spike Lee's "Oldboy" remake, who makes life hell for Josh Brolin's Joe Douchett.
Originally published 04/12/12: After cycling through Colin Firth and Clive Owen, Spike Lee is hoping he's finally found the villain for his brewing remake of "Oldboy."
Variety reports that Sharlto Copley ("District 9," "The A-Team") is the latest actor to be offered the meaty role in the film. The actor has been selective after his breakout turn in Neill Blomkamp's film — and he's got the sci-fi film "Europa" on the horizon — but this would easily be most talked about gig yet. As you already known, the movie is a remake of Park Chan-wook's fantastic, twisted film, with screenwriter Mark Protosevich also turning to the manga to help with this reboot.
So far only Josh Brolin is locked to star, and the female lead has been just as hard to nail down. Rooney Mara turned it down, Mia Wasikowska also passed, while Elizabeth Olsen has revealed she's been approached and would love to do it. And it seems as if it's coming together as the trade reveals she'll be playing a caseworker who assists Brolin in the film. Lee recently spoke to the Wall Street Journal and said, “We’re anticipating starting production this September, and we should be finished by year’s end." He also left this morsel to tease fans with adding it will “definitely be an interpretation, not a straight adaptation” and “it actually has a darker take on the ending, if you can believe that’s even possible.”
We're definitely curious. Let's hope he can get a cast locked up so this thing can start moving forward.
Ah Pink sweater, we meet again.
Thanks guys!
Good luck to him on that. This film is unnecessary simple as that. I can't picture him as the villain at all.
I heard this isn't a "remake" perse they are using more of the original book. Rolleyes.
If this remake has to be happen I'm glad Spike Lee is directing. Whatever he'll make it won't be a carbon copy of the original. As for Sharlto Copley in the villain role? Curious & interesting development. He's only played goofballs so far so I'm curious to see how he'd handle a character so complicated, sympathetic and angry.
It doesn't matter who is cast, Spike Lee is going to ruin this remake. I can't think of a worse director for this (unnecessary) American adaptation.
The cinema gods would have the right to be cruel to this production. This is a remake that should never be. And certainly not so soon.
"The actor has been selective after his breakout turn in Neill Blomkamp's film"
How could we forget that art house favorite 'The A-Team'?
Yeah remind me why this movie needs to be made for the American audience? Aside from making people like me who were tricked into seeing it, vomit every time a trailer comes up.
Sorry I can't picture him as the villain.
I don't want this movie to be remade.
The article from Variety makes it seem like Olsen is in the film