Hump-Day Harangue: Walking Dead Cast Takes Shape...

Not really much of a literal "harangue" this week, if you must know the truth--more of a cautiously optimistic nod of approval, as the anxiously anticipated AMC series adaptation of Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead comic book series becomes more and more of a reality.

Yesterday, rumors of Brandon Routh being cast in the show were debunked by the actor himself. I'll admit, I couldn't quite figure out who he was going to be playing anyway, especially since two of the prime roles had already been cast.

Speaking of those two roles, it's very interesting to see that AMC is going with relative unknowns for the most part in this, its first wholly owned TV property. The basic cable channel has been on fire lately with shows like Breaking Bad and Mad Men (my personal fave on TV right now), inheriting the throne of TV excellence once firmly inhabited by HBO. And those are both shows which have benefited greatly from having some fresh faces in key parts, so it's understandable that AMC would continue the trend.

As is our wont, we geeky internet types had a ball speculating as to which recognizable actor could take on this or that role. I know I recently conducted a poll which asked who should play lead character Rick Grimes, with choices like Lost's Josh Holloway, Supernatural's Jared Padalecki and Parenthood's Peter Krause (my choice at the time.) In the end, AMC went with British actor Andrew Lincoln (pictured), perhaps best "known" for his supporting part in the 2003 ensemble pic Love Actually. Playing his cop buddy Shane will be Jon Bernthal, an even less known commodity whom I mainly recall from his part as Al Capone in the sequel to A Night at the Museum (hey, I have kids, it comes with the job.)

In the end, I have to give kudos to AMC for resisting the allure of "name-brand" actors, although I'm sure the lower price-tags may have been a crucial factor in the decision, as well. Much like Mad Men, this is the kind of a show that will benefit greatly from a cast of relatively unrecognized talent (although it should be said that Lincoln is fairly known in the UK for his television work.) This shouldn't be something like a CSI or Law and Order spin-off, packed with familiar faces and big-time movie stars slummin' on TV. One of the selling points of The Walking Dead is its dedication to presenting a "believable" zombie apocalypse, as much of an oxymoron as that may be, and the presence of famous celebs would no doubt be a bit distracting.

Kirkman himself seems to be excited, although if I were in his shoes I'd be excited if they had cast Jerry Stiller and Fyvush Finkel in the leads. Nevertheless, I think The Walking Dead has lots of potential to be something very special, and as location scouting kicks off and shooting is almost ready to begin, I gleefully await the realization on screen of one of the strongest comic book series I've read this decade.

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Sweet Music! Dracula to Return to Broadway...with Anton Chigurh?

I haven't been dealing too much in horror industry news anymore, in part because there are others who are so much better at it, but this tasty little tidbit was just too tantalizing to pass up! The New York Post's Broadway reporter Michael Riedel broke the news this morning that producers are in talks to revive the classic 1927 John Balderston/Hamilton Deane stage production of Dracula--and are angling for their lead to be none other than Javier Bardem.

To call this casting inspired is to make a colossal understatement. Bardem--best-known for his chilling turn in the Coen Bros.' No Country for Old Men--is, in the opinion of this blogger, an absolutely and outstandingly perfect casting choice. Now, keep in mind, we're talking about the adapted stage version, not Stoker's original story.

As we all know, the role was originated in '27 by Bela Lugosi, who took it from the Great White Way to the silver screen in 1931--in a movie I very coincidentally reviewed just yesterday. Fifty years later, it was first revived on Broadway with a young Frank Langella in the lead (Langella would also reprise the part on screen shortly thereafter). And now, more than 30 years after that, it is very possibly becoming a reality once again--although it should be noted that the Broadway producers are in contention over the rights with a group of off-Broadway producers also looking to revive the show, with an unknown as the Count and F. Murray Abraham as Van Helsing (hey, can we get Abraham to jump over to the Bardem production? Cause that would rock on an astronomical level).

I've got fingers and toes crossed big-time for this one, and I'll certainly be in the audience for it if it happens. In fact, I'll think I'm going to start saving up the $87,000 for the tickets today!

Bardem perfectly combines sex appeal, a sinister edge, and exotic Continental-ness--a similar combo to what Lugosi brought to the table. Langella, in my opinion, only succeeded in the first category, but was sorely lacking in the latter two. Who knows, if this should actually come to pass, there might be another cinematic version of the classic play in our future! Move over, Eddie Cullen--Daddy's home.

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Scarlett Johannson to Play the Bride of Frankenstein?

There's a doozy of a rumor buzzing around the web today, one which, I must admit, even turned the head of this grizzled movie gossip veteran. All of you (hopefully) read my rant earlier this week against the greenlit Universal remake of The Bride of Frankenstein. Well, now it seems that none other than the bodacious Scarlett Johannson might be in consideration to don Elsa Lanchester's skunk-striped wig.

That's right, the A-list starlet who recently proved she's more than just a (painfully) pretty face with some impressive performances in Woody Allen's Match Point and Vicky Christina Barcelona might be playing the Bride herself. It all started with a statement made by a Hollywood insder to the New York Post yesterday:

“The Bride of Frankenstein will be young this time. They’re looking for a person with great power and sex appeal. Someone along the lines of Scarlett Johansson or Anne Hathaway.”

And no, apparently whoever made the comment is not aware that Elsa Lanchester was a mere five years older than Johansson is now when she played the part. Nice to see the remake is in good hands...

Anyway, from there, the rumor mill shifted course, and apparently Ms. Hathaway (thankfully) was edged out in favor of Scarlett, with websites claiming that producers were zeroing in on her to be Dr. Frankenstein's second creation. Catching wind of the story, the L.A. Times contacted Johansson's publicist, who had this to say:

"She has not been approached for this project. If anything changes, I'll let you know."

Of course, that's not to say she won't be approached. In fact, despite the fact that she's never exactly been considered a horror chick, it's a safe bet she probably will. And although I still vehemently oppose this remake, if it has to be done, they could do a whole helluva lot worse than Scarlett Johansson, who actually does seem quite suited to the role (he said begrudgingly).

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Dream Casting the New Ghostbusters

It's pretty much a foregone conclusion now that Ghostbusters III is definitely going to happen. And the casting rumors have been flying fast and furious ever since news broke that the plot would revolve around the original boys in gray turning over the proton packs to a team of five newcomers.

Word on the street was that the Apatow players would be taking on the roles, meaning people like Jonah Hill, Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd. However, in an interview today with Ain't It Cool News, co-writer Egon Spengler himself, Mr. Harold Ramis, denied any and all casting rumors, saying, "No, none of that’s real. There will be young ghostbusters, but no specific casting is real."

With that mind, I thought I'd engage in a little mental masturbation and try and come up with my own ideal team of new ghostbusters--ruling out any of the Apatow crew or anyone else previously rumored. So here's who would be cleanin' up the town in Ghostbusters III if B-Sol had his way:

Vince Vaughn
In my mind, the star of Wedding Crashers would be the perfect successor to the "Peter Venkman" archetype, in that he can play goofball, but also has that quirky leading man quality to him. Close your eyes, and you can totally picture him in the jumpsuit, can't you?

Louis C.K.
I've been touting this guy as one of the most brilliant comic minds today, an inheritor to the George Carlin throne, if you ask me. His short-lived HBO series Lucky Louie wasn't given the chance it deserved, but proved that he is as funny a comic actor as he is a standup comic.

Andy Samberg
The young upstart of the group, who manages to somehow combine complete ridiculousness with a certain vibe of weird coolness in a way that none of the original ghostbusters quite did. He's today's "it" comedian, and would bring mucho bankability to the 25-year-old franchise. Hopefully, he'd find himself on a haunted boat, as well.

Adam Goldberg
And another very Jewish comic actor, in the grand tradition of the original lineup of clipped comedians. Goldberg would fit very nicely into the Ramis-esque brainy straight man role--and I'm not just saying that because we had lunch in the same Brooklyn deli the afternoon of my daughter's baby-naming luncheon.

Patrice O'Neal
In my estimation, the funniest damn comedian you've never heard of. And if you have, my apologies, you're a lot cooler than I gave you credit for. O'Neal brings a razor-sharp, infectious wit that would make him a whole lot more than "the token black ghostbuster".

That's five right there, but to address the suggestions made by Dan Akroyd that at least one of the new members would be female, I wracked my brain to select an additional member should they indeed choose to go that route....

Anna Faris
I've caught a lot of heat in the past because for the most part, I don't often find female comedians funny. Boo, hisss, I know. I think comedy is much stronger in the male genome. But my ingrained chauvinism aside, I will say that the single funniest comic actress working today is Ms. Faris, who has the potential to be this generation's Lucille Ball.

So... anyone important listening out there? Let's make it happen, people!

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Female Ghostbusters in the New Sequel?

Dan Akroyd set fanboys' hearts aflutter earlier this week when he confirmed that a third Ghostbusters movie is, indeed, in the works, with a possible winter starting date for filming.

All the original cast members are set to return, but the story will apparently center on a "passing-of-the-torch" scenario, in which himself, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson hand over the proton packs to a younger generation of paranormal investigators.

Akroyd discussed wanting to assemble a new five-person Ghostbusters team, with two members being women. Specifically, he mentioned Eliza Dushku and Alyssa Milano as being two actresses he is particularly interested in getting to play parts.

No stranger to genre entertainment, Dushku (pictured here--thanks, BJ-C) is of course a Buffy alum who is currently on the new Joss Whedon series Dollhouse. Milano was a regular cast member of Charmed, and even lent her voice to the new Ghostbusters video game. With any luck, these two lovely ladies might be crossing the streams very, very soon.

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Katie Holmes, Don't Rape My Childhood!

I'm trying to trust the wisdom of Guillermo del Toro right now. I really am. I'm trying to trust the man who translated Mike Mignola's Hellboy flawlessly to the screen, and who so deftly brought nightmares to life in Cronos and Pan's Labyrinth. But my faith is being shaken, I can't deny it.

See, I've been buzzing for months now at the thought of del Toro producing a remake of my all-time favorite TV horror movie, 1973's Don't Be Afraid of the Dark--an obscure, brilliant, yet flawed little picture which, in the right hands, could become a masterpiece. Finally, a remake to be excited about? Right??

Then I wake up this morning, an otherwise fine spring day, to discover that The Hollywood Reporter has uncovered the very first casting news on the upcoming project. Guillermo del Toro's remake will star... Katie Holmes.

Yes, Joey Potter from Dawson's Creek will apparently be heading up the long-awaited, 35-years-in-the-making, big-screen adaptation of the movie that has been an obsession of mine since the age of five, and which is largely responsible for my entire horror fascination. Yes, Katie "I Almost Single-Handedly Ruined the First Great Batman Movie" Holmes, owner of one of the most ho-hum resumes of any mainstream Hollywood leading lady.

Granted, she did put in a somewhat interesting performance in Sam Raimi's all-but-forgotten 2000 chiller The Gift, but is this really a woman who screams out "horror"? Supremo nutball Tom Cruise's captive Stepford wife, the chick who's proven that even the classic Louise Brooks bob can be potentially unsexy? Perhaps my Thetan count is simply too high, but what's a dedicated DBAOTD fan to do but despair?

I'm assuming that Mrs. Cruise has been cast in the role of Sally Farnham, played by former child star Kim Darby in the original. Now, I know what some of you may be thinking. Sally Farnham was certainly nothing to write home about, on any level, going through the film like a somnambulistic 14-year-old boy. I'll grant you that. But that's the whole point, see, I was expecting a lot more from this big-time remake, especially given the impressive fire power involved.

Maybe I'm overreacting. Yeah, that's the ticket. After all, the part calls for a type that's not unlike the public image Holmes has created for herself anyway, right? Maybe her combination of cluelessness and anhedonia is exactly what got her the part in the first place, and will serve her well in portraying the ill-fated housewife targeted by bizarre, otherworldly creatures. Hey, wait a minute. Ill-fated housewife? Targeted by bizarre, otherworldy creatures? ... Holy Jeebus! She's perfect!

Never mind.

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Piranha 3-D Gets Medieval!

Digital Spy is reporting that Ving Rhames has joined the cast of Alexandre Aja's Piranha 3-D. It is not yet clear what his role will be, but he will be joining Richard Dreyfuss, who was recently announced as having a small part that pays homage to his iconic turn in that other aquatic-themed horror, Jaws.

Also announced for the picture, currently in pre-production, is Oscar-nominated actress and girlfriend of Marty McFly, Elisabeth Shue. This is Aja's third consecutive horror remake, following last year's Mirrors and the 2006 redux of The Hills Have Eyes. The 1978 original was directed by the legendary Joe Dante.

Rames is no stranger to horror, in recent years taking part in the remakes of both Dawn of the Dead (yay!) and Day of the Dead (boo!). And who could forget his early turn in Wes Craven's 1991 fave The People Under the Stairs (pictured), made three years before Pulp Fiction turned him into a household name?

Piranha 3-D commences filming next month in Arizona, and is scheduled for a March 19, 2010 release.

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Also wanted to give a heads-up to my readers that I was recently asked to take part in a horror blogger roundtable over at the excellent news site HorrorBlips.com. The article is now up, and features myself and esteemed colleagues like Bryan White of Cinema Suicide, Stacie Ponder of Final Girl and Mitch of Horror Society giving our opinions on what the summer season holds in store for all us fans of theatrical grotesquerie. Read it now.

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Has the New Freddy Krueger Been Cast?

So Fangoria may have stumbled into the casting news that everyone's been wondering about. Let's face it, the Nightmare on Elm Street remake is happening--there's nothing we can do about it. So the big question is: Who will be the new Freddy?

Well, good ol' Fango cornered Jackie Earle Haley at Wondercon. Haley was there to promote the upcoming Watchmen movie, in which he plays the masked Rorschach. But of course, the relevant matter here was the floating rumors that Haley might be attached to a certain razor-gloved son of a hundred maniacs. And his response was very interesting, basically indicating--unlike the earlier Billy Bob Thornton scuttlebutt--that the rumors are rooted in fact. Doesn't sound like it's 100% locked up yet, but it seems a real possibility that we may be looking at the next Springwood Slasher... Check the video below:

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