Sequel Bits: Michelle Rodriguez Returns For ‘Machete Kills,’ Vin Diesel Teases More ‘Riddick,’ Plus ‘Wrong Turn 5’, ‘Treasure Island 2’
There’s a lot of sequel casting and development to report today, and so after the break you’ll find:
The return toMichelle Rodriguezto theFast and the Furiousfranchise was teased at the end of the fifth film, and nowVarietyhas confirmed that she has a part in both the sixthFast and the Furiousmovie, as well as inRobert Rodriguez’s upcomingMachete Kills. Variety offers some new plot info onMachete Kills, though nothing about how her character fits in:
“Machete Kills,” which starts production this month in Texas, finds the titular ex-federale (Danny Trejo) recruited by the U.S. government to stop a terrorist named Mendez the Madman, who happens to be Mexico’s leading cartel dealer. Mel Gibson is set to co-star as Luther Voz, a cunning arms dealer and death merchant who aims to spread war across the planet by launching a missile. Jessica Alba is also expected to return for the sequel, which will be distributed by 20th Century Fox.
Vin DieselandDavid Twohyjust wrappedRiddick, the third film in the series that began withPitch Blackand continued withThe Chronicles of Riddick. Now, onFacebook, Diesel says the film will hit in 2013, but also suggests that further sequels could happen. After they got this one made on pure willpower, I’m ready to believe him. Here’s his update:
Here’s the plot ofRiddick:
The infamous Riddick has been left for dead on a sun-scorched planet that appears to be lifeless. Soon, however, he finds himself fighting for survival against alien predators more lethal than any human he’s encountered. The only way off is for Riddick to activate an emergency beacon and alert mercenaries who rapidly descend to the planet in search of their bounty. The first ship to arrive carries a new breed of merc, more lethal and violent, while the second is captained by a man whose pursuit of Riddick is more personal. With time running out and a storm on the horizon that no one could survive, his hunters won’t leave the planet without Riddick’s head as their trophy.
The latest addition to the voice cast of Universal and Illumination Entertainment’sDespicable Me 2isSteve Coogan. We don’t know what character he’ll voice, but he joins the returning voice cast that includesSteve Carell,Russell Brand, andMiranda Cosgrove. Also voicing characters areAl Pacino, playing the new villain, andKristen Wiig, playing a different role from the one she voiced in the original.Chris RenaudandPierre Coffinreturn to direct. [THR]
In a gigantic, really quite excellent interview withCollider,Eddie Izzardtalks at length about playing Long John Silver in the new four-hour UK television version ofTreasure Island. He calls the film “theGodfatherof pirate movies,” and it featuresElijah Woodas Ben Gunn andDonald Sutherlandas Flint, withToby Regbo,Rupert Penry-Jones,Shirley HendersonandNina Sosanya.
The interview got me quite interested in seeing the full project, and evidently there is a possible follow-up on the table. Izzard says of that,
We’re already talking about Treasure Island 2. It’s a dangerous thing to do a follow up to a classic. you’re able to fall flat on your face. But, we would like to do one, so we will see how that progresses. I do believe that there was TV series that actually only happened in Australia, but that was about John Silver and his continuing exploits. I think it does actually have legs, so I would like to do another one.
Eva Green is cast as Artemisia in the 300 prequel 300: Battle of Artemisia, and she tellsMTV,
She’s a very ballsy character, she’s almost like a man, so that’s fun. It’s my first action film, it’s going to be a challenge, [there will be] lots of training.
Finally, production has begun onWrong Turn 5, aka the latest film in the surprisingly long-running, mostly direct to DVD series.Declan O’Brien, who wrote and directed the last two films in the series, takes on those duties once again. The film is shooting in Bulgaria, and the plot goes like this:
In the next chilling chapter of Wrong Turn, a small West Virginia town is hosting the legendary Mountain Man Festival on Halloween, where throngs of costumed partygoers gather for a wild night of music and mischief. But an inbred family of hillbilly cannibals kill all the fun when they trick and treat themselves to a group of visiting college students who are dying for a good time.
