Warner Bros. Goes for Bloody Revenge With 'Odysseus'
Intent is to bring a '300' meets 'Taken' revenge tale to the screen
Warner Bros. is keeping their Greek roots alive after winning a bidding war for Odysseus written by Ann Peacock, with Jonathan Liebesman attached to direct reports The Hollywood Reporter. Over the past few years Warner has brought us Greek tales such as Troy and 300 and is continuing the trend with the remake of Clash of the Titans, which begins filming soon for a March 26, 2010 release with Louis Leterrier directing a cast made up of such names as Sam Worthington, Gemma Arterton, Mads Mikkelsen, Alexa Davalos, Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes.
I, for one, love these films and the word WB is looking to go a more violent route with Odysseus is even better news as Borys Kit reports for THR saying the intent is to make not a sleepy swords-and-sandles epic but a bloody relentless revenge movie, something akin to 300 meets Taken. You tell me, who would have ever thought Taken would eventually become inspirational fodder for upcoming films prior to its release. Score one for the little guy.
The film is being produced by Gianni Nunnari via his Hollywood Gang Prods. who also produced 300.
Jonathan Liebesman last directed The Killing Room, which Peacock co-wrote, but is probably best known for his work directing Darkness Falls in 2003 and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning in 2006. His resume doesn't exactly speak to the idea of a sword-and-sandals epic, but I have yet to see The Killing Room in which four individuals sign up for a psychological research study only to discover that they are now subjects of a brutal, classified government program, so I may need to hold out any kind of overall judgment.
The story of Odysseus centers on the legendary title character, famed king of Ithaca, who returns to his island after 20 years of fighting the Trojan Wars, only to find his kingdom under the brutal occupation of an invading force. Odysseus single-handedly defeats every last man and takes back his wife, his son and his kingdom. Odysseus plays a key role in Homer's "Iliad" and Homer's "Odyssey" marking the end of Odysseus' voyage home and his vengeance on his wife Penelope's suitors, who have devoured his property in his absence.
The character was played by Sean Bean in 2004's Troy, but there is no word on casting or even a production start so there is no telling what is in store. Stay tuned.
SIDE NOTE: Variety is reporting this same story, but they are referring to the title of the film as Ulysses, not Odysseus. Ulysses is the Latin name for Odysseus so it's not a big deal, and I am sure it will be squared away soon enough.
Links from Other Sites You May Like
Showing 11 Comments
~ PLEASE NOTE ~
If, in any way, your comment is an attack on the author of this post or a previous commenter, your comment will be deleted without question.
Add a New Comment |
Click to Read Our Commenting Rules & Guidelines
I'm hoping that one of their references to "Taken" is that they will cast an age appropriate actor to play the older, tired warrior. It would also be nice if they had an older but still beautiful woman playing his wife. There's no lack of them in the youth obsessed Hollywood. The casting of a young stud could be left for the part of the son.
If I was the casting director, I'd cast Sean Bean. He played Odysseus well in "Troy."
typo at the beginning of paragraph #5 (fyi). But yes, this was a great read and I think it will be interesting to see the special effects used in the film. I think that they should also try to get Brad Pitt to reprise his role as Achilles.
There can be only one Odysseus – Sean Bean!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He´s the one and only Odysseus!!!!!!!!!!
Sean Bean would be a great choice. He was also just cast as Zeus in Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief so it's right up his alley.
Since Sean Bean was one of the most kick-a$$ parts of Troy, it would seem ridiculous not to cast him in the same role in this.
Sean Bean was GREAT as Odysseus in Troy. He would be IDEAL to play an older Odysseus voyaging home.
I agree…Sean Bean IS the trickster King of Ithaca. He made the character his own in Troy.
I vote for the wondeful Sean Bean too but OMG, Sean Bean and Liam Neeson in the same film is beyond delightful. Surely they can find a role for each of them? ;)
Sean Bean's already proven he is the best choice to play Odysseus. No one else can do it better!
Sean Bean would be excellent in this role. Don't believe it? Check out Far North.