Gavin Hood to direct Wolverine

[BMM]

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117968868.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

Twentieth Century Fox has set Gavin Hood to direct Hugh Jackman in "Wolverine," the "X-Men" spin-off film that was scripted by David Benioff.

Pic, which begins production in November for 2008 release, will be produced by Lauren Shuler-Donner, Jackman and his Seed Prods. partner John Palermo.

Hood is the South African director whose 2005 film "Tsotsi" won the foreign film Oscar. He was among several hot young directors vying for "Wolverine" and sources said Fox brass was swayed after viewing his latest film, "Rendition," the politically charged New Line drama starring Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal, Meryl Streep and Peter Sarsgaard. It opens Oct. 19 and premieres at Toronto.

Using several resources that include the Marvel Comics lore, along with the more recent Weapon X graphic novels by Frank Miller, "Wolverine" mixes action with an origin story about how Logan emerged from a barbaric experiment as an indestructible mutant with retractable razor-sharp claws.

After three "X-Men" films grossed over $1 billion worldwide, studio has made "Wolverine" a top priority.

"I have long been a fan of Gavin's work and know he will make a masterful film with the character intensity and action beats the fans expect," said Jackman.

I'm surprised, but I'm actually interested by this choice. It's unexpected.

 

[Darthkush]

hmm...that's different. Not sure how to react. Has anyone seen any of Hood's other films?

 

[BMM]

I've been looking forward to Rendition for some time, but I'm not familiar with his other work...

Here's a list of his other directorial works:

Tsotsi (2005)
W pustyni i w puszczy (2001)
A Reasonable Man (1999)
The Storekeeper (1998)

 

[danoyse]

Wow, didn't see that coming.

I've heard Tsotsi is amazing. I'll have to move it up on my Netflix queue to check it out.

Cool news...glad to see it's on the way! t:

 

[TheSpyAssassin]

O Thank God! There Is Actually A Chance Now That Wolverine Will Be Good...lolol...

 

[Advanced Dark]

Very cool!

http://www.tsotsimovie.com/

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tsotsi/

Tsotsi means "THUG"

[YT]DYnqbNl7VMM[/YT]

 

[Mike]

Unknown director.........Cool.

 

[Advanced Dark]

I would have liked Wiseman or DJ. I know DJ chose Eagle Eye but what happened to Wiseman??? I'm cool with this though. I love directors who step out and are given a chance like this.

 

[deathshead2]

Unknown director.........Cool.

Hes not that unknown I think one of his movies won an oscar for best foreign picture.

 

[PWN3R]

Oh wow. Totally surprised by this. I'm excited. Tsotsi was a great film. Totally made you feel for such a horrible person.

I can't wait to see how this is handled.

 

[L0ngsh0t]

I had very little interest in this until now, I think it is a great choice for the story, I hope he doesn't supress the action, which is why I would have loved to see Wisemen, but I think this may actually turn out fine

 

[BMM]

Wow, didn't see that coming.

I've heard Tsotsi is amazing. I'll have to move it up on my Netflix queue to check it out.

Cool news...glad to see it's on the way! t:

I didn't see it coming either, and I like that.

If Jackman's supposed to be available and if filming begins by September/October, casting announcements shouldn't be too far off either.

 

[xwolverine2]

never seen this toaster movie everybody keeps refering to...

i gotta say... i REALLY wanted lenny
i almost cried...

now im sorta scared for wolvie turning into an elektra

 

[PWN3R]

never seen this toaster movie everybody keeps refering to...

i gotta say... i REALLY wanted lenny
i almost cried...

now im sorta scared for wolvie turning into an elektra

'Toaster movie'....

Watch it. Really. Then not only will you realize it's a freaking good movie, you will also know that there is absolutely no way this'll be another Elektra.

 

[xwolverine2]

'Toaster movie'....

Watch it. Really. Then not only will you realize it's a freaking good movie, you will also know that there is absolutely no way this'll be another Elektra.

i liked rob bowman because xfiles was awesome.... but wow...poopy

at least his toaster movie was rated R... *hint* hint*..LMAO

 

[nosebleed.]

LOL @ 'toaster movie'.

 

[chaseter]

I don't know what to think of this right now. I wish they would have gotten a better established off the radar director istead of one that has never been on the radar. This has potential to be good, but I think it has more potential to fail...Fox is still a big percentage of that. Oh well, time will tell.

 

[xwolverine2]

i just sorta dont like waiting for a trailer for some solid trust...

so far the only movie that ill pretty much trust in is TDK...

even The Invasion im a little iffy about

 

[Brendan]

I'm shocked to see Fox and Marvel go with a REAL director this time after giving X-3 to that chump named Bret Ratner. Tsotsi is an amazing movie and Hood was an unlikely candidate for any comic book movie in my mind.

I wish they would have gotten a better established off the radar director istead of one that has never been on the radar. This has potential to be good, but I think it has more potential to fail...

Umm... His movie won an Oscar. That's enough to make any studio want to sign you.

 

[neemer5]

Tsotsi has an extremely gritty look and feel, yet the cinematography is extremely clear and vibrant. It's a really bizarre and unique contrast. Very artful and beautiful to look at. It's also very artificial looking, in a Tim Burton meets Spike Lee kind of way. My only complaint was that the greenish orange filtering was just a tiny bit too distracting, albeit effective.

This is what I was personally hoping for in Wolverine: less razzle-dazzle (and showy mutants), and more hand-to-hand combat and realistic-looking action.. and I think Hood was picked for that reason.

I'm impressed so far: a respectable screenwriter and a phenomenal up-and-coming director. This has some serious potential. And not just as an X-film, but one that could be universally respected as a standalone.

Too bad Magneto doesn't seem to be moving in that direction.

 

[cookiva]

I'm shocked to see Fox and Marvel go with a REAL director this time after giving X-3 to that chump named Bret Ratner. Tsotsi is an amazing movie and Hood was an unlikely candidate for any comic book movie in my mind.
.

I want to say that they might have figured out not to screw the fanboys over, but after the payday they made, i know they didnt. While i look forward to see what Gavin can do, I know to expect an hour and a half long film of action....

 

[TNC9852002]

Does this remind anyone else of the time when they hired Matthew Vaughn to do X3? Remember?

-TNC

 

[BMM]

^ ...drops about a month before principle photography begins and is replaced by McG?

 

[Lighthouse]

This is really out of left field, but damn I think its an interesting choice. Much more interested now than I was before.

 

[WalterKovacs]

If Hugh is right about it, then im pumped.