Peter Jackson's King Kong casting news.

KenM · Mar 30, 2004

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040330/film_nm/film_kingkong_dc

Very cool male lead.

Ankh-Morpork Guard · Mar 30, 2004

Interesting, and not really bad...could this show that Jack Black might be able to play a non-crazy role, or is PJ trying to have a humour filled King Kong?

KenM · Mar 30, 2004

I think Jack Black can do it, he wants to do stuff other then comedy. I think PJ is going to remake the orginal, I don't think they are going for laughs.

Ankh-Morpork Guard · Mar 30, 2004

KenM said:
I think Jack Black can do it, he wants to do stuff other then comedy. I think PJ is going to remake the orginal, I don't think they are going for laughs.

I agree that Jack Black could do it...it just kind of seem surprising. Hopefully he can prove he CAN be more serious...though I think him being cast may change the opinion of most people. May give off the wrong impression.

Mark · Mar 30, 2004

I'm sure that Black can handle the role. He'll have to be on top of his game opposite of Naomi Watts. She's got a resume like few actors in their mid-thirties. She's also ten years older than anyone who has played that role, and slightly older than Black, which is somewhat interesting to me.

I'm surprized they haven't definitely signed Andy Serkis yet to the part of Kong.

I'm curious if Jackson is distancing himself from the `76 version "(Jackson has said he is pretending the 1976 update does not exist.)" or if the indirect quote is misrepresenting his intent, or perhaps if he misspoke. While it may have taken some liberties to update the script, it did launch the career of Jessica Lange, perhaps one of the best American-born, female actors of this generation. I wouldn't be surprized if what Jaskson said was merely that he was focusing on the original rather than purposefully ignoring a specific remake.

I suppose it is best for him to base his film on only one version and, like pioneering effects artist Ray Harryhausen, Jackson first inspiration driving him to the industry is the `33 King Kong.

It'll be interesting to see if Black or Watts gets top billing. Fay Wray got top in `33 but Bridges (in the Black role) got top in `76.

CCamfield · Mar 30, 2004

Well, colour me ignorant as I have never seen anything with Mr. Black in it. Not revved by this, though.

Krieg · Mar 30, 2004

Mark said:
I'm curious if Jackson is distancing himself from the `76 version "(Jackson has said he is pretending the 1976 update does not exist.)" or if the indirect quote is misrepresenting his intent, or perhaps if he misspoke. While it may have taken some liberties to update the script, it did launch the career of Jessica Lange, perhaps one of the best American-born, female actors of this generation. I wouldn't be surprized if what Jaskson said was merely that he was focusing on the original rather than purposefully ignoring a specific remake.

I have seen previous quotes indicating that Jackson hold the '76 remake with quite a bit of disdain.

Apparently he has wanted to to a "true" remake of King Kong for quite some time.