Man of Steel Casting News: Russell Crowe Sought for Harker; Henry Cavill Heads to The Great Wall
Posted 02.13.12 by Ryan
Interest in having Russell Crowe appear in nearly every production currently being readied in Hollywood continues, this time with Harker, a re-imagining of Bram Stoker's novel Dracula.
According to Vulture, Warner Bros. is in talks with Crowe to play the title character of Jonathan Harker, who is now a Scotland Yard detective investigating a string of murders that should lead him to the nefarious Count. The project has been lingering around Warners for a while now, but with the studio's adaptation of Akira recently shut down over budget concerns, Harker has regained momentum. The report claims that the studio wants director Jaume Collet-Serra (Unknown, ABC's The River) to helm Harker first, and then address Akira's budgetary issues.
While Crowe is in talks, his participation isn't confirmed. The actor is set to play Inspector Javert in The King's Speech director Tom Hooper's musical version of Les Miserables starting this month, and recently became attached to Winter's Tale, the upcoming directorial debut for Crowe's A Beautiful Mind screenwriter Akiva Goldsman. Crowe is also being sought for Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky's Biblical epic Noah, and was at least mentioned for the possible lead in director Joe Carnahan's Death Wish remake.
Crowe has already finished work on the upcoming Superman reboot, Man of Steel, where he will play Jor-El, the biological father of Superman, who will be played by Henry Cavill (Immortals), another highly sought-after actor.
Variety reports that Cavill is in negotiations to star in his first post-Man of Steel role with Legendary East's The Great Wall. The movie will follow the construction of China's Great Wall, and the mystery surrounding it. Legendary Pictures chairman Thomas Tull and Max Brooks (author of World War Z) conceived the story, which was written by Marshall Herskovitz and Edward Zwick (The Last Samurai), who will also direct and produce. What role Cavill will play is unknown.
The Great Wall will be the first production for Legendary Pictures' new East banner, which was launched last June by Tull and Asian investors in the hops of producing one or two "event" movies per year. No word yet on when production will begin.
Next Showing: Man of Steel opens June 14, 2013