The end of a political career and an illustrious marriage means that, age be damned, Arnold Schwarzenegger is jumping back into action movies. With roles in “The Expendables 2” and “The Last Stand,” Arnie’s loudly announced he’s not done, and it looks like that will continue with “Captive.” Arnie plays an American real estate magnate (hahahaha) who is kidnapped and held for ransom, while a detective races against the clock to find him. Unfortunately for us (and them?) Arnie’s being held captive in an armored truck hidden in a landfill. Wait, so it’s like Schwarzenegger’s “Buried“? Groan.
Benjamin Van Der Veen has written the script based on a story by Nicolai Fulgsig, which seems like a fun name to pronounce. No other talent is attached, but the structure, involving a likely younger, intrepid cop saving Arnold, reeks of the sort of passing-the-baton BS that comes from big stars giving way to younger ones. No director is attached, but names are being sought, presumably for a mid-to-late 2012 start date. It doesn’t really sound like a role that plays to Schwarzenegger’s gifts (i.e. not talking), but maybe now that he’s on board, there will be a judicious re-write or two, as there was on the aborted “Cry Macho.”
The project is being shepherded by Furla Films, which recently was granted a $250 million loan. In addition to “Captive,” this money will be going to a couple of star-studded projects: one is the Mark Wahlberg–Russell Crowe project “Broken City.” And another is on a direct-to-DVD-sounding teaming of Nicolas Cage and John Cusack, a thriller called “Frozen Ground.” Oh, and where to stand on “Captive”? Last time Arnie went tropical, it was “Collateral Damage.” You’ve been warned.