John Woo is back with his latest, “The Killer,” a remake of his 1989 HK action classic, streaming exclusively on Peacock. And with it coming fresh on the heels of last year’s “Silent Night,” it’s clear that Woo is entering a late-period renaissance of sorts. So what does the legendary action director have on his slate next? The answer may surprise you.
READ MORE: ‘The Killer’ Trailer: John Woo Remakes His Own Classic With Nathalie Emmanuel Starring
Empire reports that Woo’s next movie will be not just a departure but also a culmination of a career-long dream: a musical starring and written by art-pop duo Sparks. “My next project is actually a half-musical,” Woo told Empire in a new interview. “I’m going to be working with the Sparks brothers, who wrote the script and songs — we are just starting work on some changes to the script.” And while Woo didn’t disclose the title of the movie, it sounds a lot like Focus Feature‘s recently announced “X Crucior,” described by the studio as a “musical epic.” Sparks confirmed both projects are one and the same in a recent post on X.
If Woo makes his “half-musical” with Sparks, he’ll finally make the musical he’s always wanted to. The director came close to doing so back in the 1990s, when he almost adapted “The Phantom Of The Opera” with John Travolta as the Phantom. Obviously, plans for that fell through, and Woo made “Broken Arrow” and “Face/Off” with Travolta instead. But don’t expect Woo’s film with Sparks to be reminiscent of his typical fare, however. “It will be my first movie where I don’t need to hire a stuntman,” the director joked, which hints that while the film will be a musical epic, it’s not going to be an action-packed extravaganza like Woo’s best-known features.
“X Crucior” continues Sparks’ recent foray into filmmaking, which began in 2021 with Edgar Wright‘s doc “The Spark Brothers.” The duo also worked with Leos Carax that year in “Annette,” an avant-garde rock opera featuring Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard, and more. But Sparks have been making music together for over 50 years, building a devoted cult fanbase over 26 albums. Not familiar with the band? “This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us,” “Amateur Hour,” and “Angst In My Pants” are just three of several earworms you may have heard but never realized came from the brothers.
Woo’s film with Sparks isn’t the only project on the way from the director. “I have a Western project; a wonderful script from Brian Helgeland,” he told Empire. “It has a lot of romance and a lot of emotion and exciting action.” That one sounds more like Woo’s usual speed, but “X Crucior” comes first. Stay tuned for more details on the “half-musical” soon.