Harmony Korine’s “The Trap” is already going to be on our most anticipated list, presumably for next year, but the project just got that much more interesting. The movie is finalizing its major casting pieces, and three more actors have joined the cast: Idris Elba (“Luther,” and “The Wire” star) is evidently the new lead actor, and James Franco and Al Pacino are in supporting roles. They join the already cast Robert Pattinson and Benico Del Toro in additional supporting roles.
What does this mean for the originally cast Jamie Foxx? Well, he’s dropped out of the project and has been replaced by Elba. But his loss is really the “Thor” actor’s gain, as aside from TV work, Elba hasn’t scored many plum lead film roles yet, and this sounds like the part.
“The Trap” is set in Miami’s music scene and is a revenge and crime tale set within that milieu. Elba will play a gangster rapper, and Del Toro will play his best friend. THR says in “The Trap” Elba’s character “is at the top of his career and about to enjoy a triumphant night at the Grammy Awards when Slim (Del Toro) is released from prison after 14 years. Slim is determined to exact revenge after learning that Rico not only achieved fame and fortune but also married his girlfriend and raised Slim’s son as his own.” Del Toro’s uzi-wielding crew also features Pattison and Franco who sound like typical Korine character freaks. Pacino will play Del Toro’s parole officer.
Korine has recently said the film will loosely incorporate elements of the electro-rap music genre popularized by Gucci Mane. “You could almost say there’s some type of Florida trilogy going on,” he said, in reference to “Spring Breakers” and… perhaps another film in the works?
Focus Features are in talks to pre-buy the film before even a frame of it is shot. We’re guessing the film will draw on the hi/lo, beautiful/ugly aesthetics Korine so deftly navigated in his most commercial success so far, the aforementioned “Spring Breakers.” No word on a release date, but “The Trap” begins shooting very soon (Del Toro said March a few months back, but April sounds more feasible now). It’s possible we could see it at a film festival later this year, but that’s a tough turnaround. Even if it did pop up somewhere, you can almost guarantee a proper theatrical release date probably won’t hit until 2016.
Elba is such an excellent actor. I\’m glad that he replaced Foxx, who\’s not really bad (He was great in Django) but does lack a certain kind of charisma I think. His work in Collateral is really quite weak and kinda sinks the movie. As for Pacino and Franco. Hallelujah. Big chance that this will be simply awesome.
Jay-Z is 45. 50Cent is 40, how old do you think SnoopDog is? And it\’s a film, suspension of disbelief, you know? RME.
sorry they got me lost at ganster rapper does not sound at all but idris is a good actor so maybe it will work can´t see robert pattinson as a surfer he was great in the rover but maps to me was a dissapointment but I will give him the benefit of doubt I guess
I love Elba, but he\’s a little old to be a gangster rapper who is at the height of his career…. that\’s a younger guy\’s game. But I do want Elba to be a legit star, and this cast is amazing.
Sounds sooo good already. Bet they\’ll all have some fun shooting it too. Awsome cast! Crazy combo but Awsome
Sorry, @Franco, but Pattinson has been friends with Korine for years, and this part was written specifically for him. He talked about it over a year ago. I doubt Franco\’s participation influenced anyone\’s decision to be a part of this film.
Oops, didn\’t mean for that to sound disrespectful. Just meant that I actually haven\’t seen much of his work (loved This is the End, but I don\’t think I\’ve seen anything else), but I know the other actors\’ work much more. I\’ll definitely go in with an open mind.
WOW, can\’t wait to see this – excellent cast. Not sure why previous comment JADE stated "Not quite sure about Franco", because without Franco giving an Oscar winning Performance in Spring Breakers (Franco should have been nominated for an Oscar as his role is iconic, he was so robbed), the amazing talents of all these other actors might not have previously considered working with Harmony Korine but now YES (even though Korine is amazing director anyway).
Sounds like it has the potential to be amazing. Not quite sure about Franco, but all the other actors are fantastic. I\’m looking forward to what they create in their collaboration with Korine.
Some films crackle with excitement from the day they are announced. This is one of them. Elba is perfect for this role and he has a lot of solid support with this cast. The plot sounds a bit like something Tarantino would come up with, and I expect a tight soundtrack to come out of this.