Well, this is either an inspired move or the slow-road to trainwrecks-ville and frankly, we have to side with the former. Nicolas Cage is in early talks to star as the main villain of Michel Gondry and Seth Rogen’s live-action adaptation of “The Green Hornet” for Columbia. In other words, be excited, but don’t bank on it quite yet.
The role is described as a “gangster villain,” but other details are unknown so far, though DealMemo says the character’s name is Chudnofsky. Variety also reports that Cameron Diaz is indeed in negotiations to play a reporter and love interest for Rogen’s Hornet character.
Stephen Chow may have officially dropped out of the picture, but the trade says it’s “full steam ahead” for the production that is trying to recast his role as soon as possible. Last we heard, the intended shooting date is set for September and since the film is already scheduled for a summer 2010 release, the studio won’t want to push back that date any further if at all possible (small update: EW now says shooting date of November).
Nic Cage, the wacky, crazy villain? Better than Nic Cage the leading man which is more and more becoming a farcical and unbelievable proposition. But either way, if any of this somehow magically helps sell Werner Herzog’s “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans” (which Cage stars in) we’re all for it. Though, yes, we realize it may have to be a huge hit first. OK, nevermind…