While James Cameron is busy gearing up his multiple “Avatar” sequels, they’re not the only high-concept pictures that have his attention. The filmmaker’s long-developing manga adaptation “Alita: Battle Angel” is moving ahead, with Cameron sliding into the producer’s chair, and handing directorial duties to Robert Rodriguez. And with the film already setting “The Maze Runner” actress Rosa Salazar to lead, they’ve now found the actor to bring her character to life.
THR reports that Christoph Waltz has been tapped to play the role of Doctor Dyson, in movie about a female cyborg who is rescued from a scrapyard, and trained to become a bounty hunting warrior. Dyson is the cybersurgeon who tinkers with the cyborg and helps her boot up again. That’s right, Waltz will not be playing a villain. Phew.
This is a big budget flick for 20th Century Fox, with the studio last reported to be trying to get the $175-200 million cost down, but it seems everyone is now on the same page, with production gearing up to begin this fall, and “Alita: Battle Angel” due in cinemas on July 20, 2018.