Wolfman In Action

AintItCool have run a picture of Rick Baker and Benicio Del Toro playing werewolves and, frankly, I found it very exciting. Even more brilliant is Mark Romanek's statement about the image:

This was taken about three months ago -- Our first meeting with the three of us.

This pose was a jokey homage to the classic Universal Wolfman/Famous Monsters Magazine-era style, but seeing Benicio getting "wolfy" for the first time, even in jest, gave us chills. It was our first glimpse of what we could expect from this amazingly original and gifted actor.

It was very exciting to see these guys in the same room. Rick could tell immediately that Benicio was a sincere fan of the Lon Chaney Jr. original. Rick is such a Wolfman fan, he admitted that he's only campaigned for two films in his entire career. One was Ed Wood and the other is this project.

Seeing them together in the same room made me feel the project was finally becoming a reality.

Rick's assistant Kazu took extensive hi-rez digital photos (on this incredible 30 megapixel Hasselblad digital camera) of Benny making various facial expressions. we were all so stunned to see just how expressive Benicio's snarls and grimaces were, even without make-up.

Rick joked, "so, whattaya need ME for?!"

That said, the designs that Rick has created for Benicio are astonishing -- subtle, detailed, (sexy), terrifying.

I've said it before, and I'll no doubt say it again: when Romanek has no more than four or five films under his belt I think the world will look back on his record and recognise it as the work of a true giant in film history. There's more filmmaking expertise on display in Static, One Hour Photo and a small handful of Romanek's music video and commercial work than almost any other filmmaker has ever acheived in even a lifetime career. Romanek is not only one of the greatest craftsmen in cinema he's one of it's most thrilling visionaries.

Officially, then, The Wolfman is the one film coming in the next couple of years that film ick is most excited about... so, if you know anything about it at all, please, please, send the info over.

Romanek Attached To Direct Ben Stiller Vehicle

Steve Conrad has been hired to do an extensive overhaul on the script for In Deep, originally written by George Beckerman in the late 80s, and he's apparently being paid 1.6 million against 2.5 million for his trouble.

The director attached is Mark Romanek which, if you ask me, is a very good thing. Both of Romanek's features so far - One Hour Photo and Static - are genuine masterpieces.

Ben Stiller is producing the film and seems likely to star. The plot revolves around a man who challenges a parking ticket and, as a result, becomes sucked further and further into 'criminal allegations'. Sounds like Changing Lanes maybe, or even The Winslow Boy, in an odd way. It may, however, be nothing like either of those because all I know for sure is that this simple logline won't be anwhere nearly as sophisticated as the actual film.

Romanek is due to go into production on The Wolfman later this year, with Benicio Del Toro in the title role and, possibly, Anthony Hopkins as his father (and fellow bearer of the lupine genes?).

Romanek's Wolffather

According to Anthony Hopkins, he's in the frame for a role in Mark Romanek's Wolfman film. He'll be playing the father of Benicio del Toro's character, the titular wolfman, but seems to think the character has lycanthropic tendencies himself.

He said "There's also a chance I may play the Wolfman in London in a movie with Benicio Del Toro" and later added "I play the Wolfman's father in Paris. A wonderful part."

Seems like sensible casting to me. You?

Mark Romanek To Direct The Wolfman

Mark Romanek is to make another feature film. About time too. It's The Wolfman.

Aint it Cool seem to have broken the news - I can't see it elsewhere yet. We already knew that Benicio del Toro was lined up to star and that Andrew Kevin Walker was behind the script. Don't despair, however: I'm sure Romanek has a rewrite planned.