If you’re a fan of American films from the ‘70s and ‘80s, odds are you’re familiar with the influential work of Walter Hill. Not only is he the man who directed films such as “The Warriors,” “48 Hours,” and “Brewster’s Millions,” but he’s also a producer that is one of the primary forces behind the “Alien” franchise. Oh and let’s not forget he directed an episode of “Deadwood” and earned a DGA Award for his work. But as the years have gone on, as with most filmmakers outside of Spielberg and Scorsese, his output has slowed down. This makes the announcement about “Dead for a Dollar” that much more exciting.
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According to Deadline, Walter Hill is set to write and direct a new Western titled “Dead for a Dollar.” And not only is Hill attached, which would make film fans hyped enough but he’s also signed on actors such as Christoph Waltz and Willem Dafoe to star in it. “Dead for a Dollar” tells the story of a famous bounty hunter, Max Borlund (Waltz), who is hired by a Santa Fe businessman to recover his kidnapped wife from Mexico. While south of the border, Borlund meets up with an American expatriate, Joe Cribbens (Dafoe), who just happens to be the bounty hunter’s sworn enemy.
As mentioned, Hill is a legendary filmmaker that has been around for decades. However, since 2000, he’s only directed four features with the most recent one being 2016’s “The Assignment,” starring Michelle Rodriguez.
Waltz is probably best known for his work with Quentin Tarantino in the films “Inglourious Basterds” and “Django Unchained,” both of which earned him Oscars for Best Supporting Actor. Clearly, as proven in ‘Django,’ he’s a great fit for a Western. Dafoe is no stranger to acclaim over his decades-long career, earning four Oscar nominations, with the most recent being for 2019’s “At Eternity’s Gate.”
A release date has yet to be announced, as “Dead for a Dollar” has yet to find a studio for distribution. But with Hill directing and the acting duo of Waltz and Dafoe, you better believe film fans will be anxiously awaiting the film.
