Hey folks, Harry here... The news that Kane Hodder is possibly out of FREDDY VS JASON in favor of a new actor that has more 'soulful eyes' well... I've seen the casting request for Jason - They want someone over six foot three, but under six six. They don't want a body builder type... from the look of the casting form, I'd say they are looking for a 1970's era Joe Don Baker big guy look... you know... a sort of Bo Svenson type. They want someone that is more complicated than just an unstoppable, unfazable killing machine, but they went back to Jason's origin of being that boy that was picked on by all the kids in the Neighborhood, but was mentally challenged and deformed, but then drowned by those bastards. They want someone that speaks volumes through slight movements. In a way, it sounds like they are looking for the next Boris Karloff - an actor that can play a monster that seems to have a sense of history, a past. I haven't read the script, but that seems to be what they are looking for in the actor for the part... Which ain't necessarily a bad thing, and given what this director did with BRIDE OF CHUCKY... I'm all about checking this out...
Hey Harry,
At first I was open-minded about the news that Kane Hodder might not play Jason. After all, there have been many actors before him behind the mask, so it's not like he was the first. However, all this "re-designing" that New Line seems to be in favor of just worries me quite a bit. See what you think...
Taken from today's Fangoria.com update...
"So why is the studio passing on Hodder, who has kept the character alive for the past 14 years and has emerged as a hero to fright fans? Both the actor and an anonymous New Line executive tell Fango that the production has "rethought" the character to make Jason both more sympathetic and a closer physical match to opponent Freddy (Robert Englund, who has signed on). To get an idea of what the filmmakers have in mind, the new Jason casting breakdown calls for an actor "who can emote pain and anguish over the loss of a loved one [we're looking for] someone with poetic eyes." The idea is to make Jason a "sad, pathetic, Phantom of the Opera-type character," says our New Line source.
Though Hodder has met with director Ronny (BRIDE OF CHUCKY) Yu, he admits that the production wants a "different body type" for the film. New Line, which expects to decide on its Jason star by this weekend, insists that Hodder is still being considered for his dream gig.
In other FREDDY VS. JASON news, screenwriter David (BLADE II) Goyer, who has been periodically involved with the project over the years, is polishing Mark Swift and Damian Shannon's script, while STIR OF ECHOES' Fred Murphy will serve as director of photography. In other casting, R&B singer Kelly Roland of Destiny's Child is expected to take the film's female lead. And in yet another career-defining move for Bill Terezakis of WTC Productions, the Vancouver-based FX artist (HOUSE OF THE DEAD, WILLARD, FINAL DESTINATION 2) will be providing the movie's special makeup.
"We're redesigning both the characters, Freddy and Jason," Terezakis tells Fango. "We're doing tons of stuff on this film, real interesting effects and makeup." Regarding his and the industry's resurgence in creature FX, he adds, "This is the Year of Rubber all over again. Everyone is doing makeup."
While I like the "Year of Rubber" comment, the rest scares me. Everyone who read it said that the Swift/Shannon script kicks major ass. Why is David Goyer monkeying around with it? Hasn't he voiced his lack of interest for the project in the past? Sigh. A penny for your thoughts, Harry?
Sincerely,
WesReviews
