Luc Besson is showing remarkable restraint by ruling out a sequel to this summer’s smash hit "Lucy," but that won’t stop every executive around town from throwing action scripts at the feet of Scarlett Johansson. The actress, who already has Marvel fans campaigning for a Black Widow spinoff, now has Warner Bros. offering her the lead role in a long-in-the-works live action adaptation of a cult classic anime movie.
Deadline reports that the studio has a $10 million check waiting for Johansson for the starring gig in "Ghost In The Shell." "The Wolf Of Wall Street" star Margot Robbie had previously been circling the part, but the role is ScarJo’s if she wants it. Rupert Sanders ("Snow White And The Huntsman") is attached to direct, and clearly WB aren’t afraid of spending money on this film, so we’ll see where this goes.
Speaking of remakes, "Ain’t Them Bodies Saints" helmer David Lowery is gearing up "Pete’s Dragon" over at Disney and Robert Redford of all people is in early talks for the movie, according to THR. It’s yet another surprise move for Redford who also appeared in this year’s "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," but it makes more sense once you remember that Lowery and Redford have another project cooking, the bank robber tale "The Old Man And The Gun."
The remake will reset the story against the backdrop of loggers cutting down a forest, where the titular dragon resides. Redford would play a local who has more than a few stories about dragons, but no one believes him. Production on the live action/CGI movie will take place in New Zealand this fall.