Josh Brolin is Jonah Hex?

[cerealkiller182]

Spider-Man is Spider-Man, though. Most people have no idea who Jonah Hex is.

Do they need to know?

This concern always comes up with comic movies. How many original stories are told in cinema? People enter those movies knowing very little of the characters since this is the first time they see them. Why is this different? If the general audience doesnt know Hex than he might as well not have a comic series for all intents and purposes.

I also dont know where all this Brolin isnt big enough crap is coming from. Considering he had some of the longer screentime in last years Best Picture according to the Academy. Hes also appearing in W and in Milk. One of which is expected to get controversy and one which is expected to have more Oscar buzz.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Do they need to know?

This concern always comes up with comic movies. How many original stories are told in cinema? People enter those movies knowing very little of the characters since this is the first time they see them. Why is this different? If the general audience doesnt know Hex than he might as well not have a comic series for all intents and purposes.

I also dont know where all this Brolin isnt big enough crap is coming from. Considering he had some of the longer screentime in last years Best Picture according to the Academy. Hes also appearing in W and in Milk. One of which is expected to get controversy and one which is expected to have more Oscar buzz.

Totally agreed. He's been in Oscar-winning films, he's shined in both leading and supporting roles, and he's hot right now. I don't see what else Josh Brolin needs to do to be "big enough" for a medium-scale film about a lesser known comic book character.

 

[The Sage]

Joe-Blo Public didn't know who Iron Man was either. But that did pretty well without an A-list superstar in the lead.

Of course, Jonah Hex is another few steps down in the obscurity scale. But by all accounts, this isn't supposed to be some huge summer tentpole movie that needs to recoup a monstrous budget. It's a wild, high-concept, action-packed Western by the people who brought you the wild, high-concept, action-packed Crank. I'm sure that's how it'll be marketed.

And if the script review is anything to go by, a big selling point will be the badassness of Jonah Hex himself. So casting a strong actor that can bring that to life (which Brolin is) is all the film needs. It's not like you're going to need to make "Will Smith is Jonah Hex" to stop the film running at a huge loss.

Script review? Link please.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Script review? Link please.

http://forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?t=298361

Plus, the actual script has been leaked. Was doing the rounds on here a while back, though I sadly missed it.

 

[cerealkiller182]

Totally agreed. He's been in Oscar-winning films, he's shined in both leading and supporting roles, and he's hot right now. I don't see what else Josh Brolin needs to do to be "big enough" for a medium-scale film about a lesser known comic book character.

IN addition he was in both Valley of Elah and American Gangster both movies with Oscar buzz but just couldnt compete.

The niche market of comic book movies always seemed to share the spotlight with horror and sci/fi flicks and properties. Check any ComicCon type of convention and you'll see. The only difference is comic movies reach mainstream way more often. Brolin was in the better half of Planet Terror in a very good role. So theres a little geek cred there, not a lot but enough.

 

[Ronny Shade]

Do they need to know?

This concern always comes up with comic movies. How many original stories are told in cinema? People enter those movies knowing very little of the characters since this is the first time they see them. Why is this different? If the general audience doesnt know Hex than he might as well not have a comic series for all intents and purposes.

I also dont know where all this Brolin isnt big enough crap is coming from. Considering he had some of the longer screentime in last years Best Picture according to the Academy. Hes also appearing in W and in Milk. One of which is expected to get controversy and one which is expected to have more Oscar buzz.

To appreciate the movie? No. To go see it with no A-list stars? yes.

Look at Wanted. Nobody outside the comic community had any idea what that was...also nobody gives a **** about James McAvoy even though he's talented.

All I heard was "the new Angelina Jolie movie"

and people went and saw it!

if you get a Jolie in this movie and its decent it'll do well. If you don't it probably wont.

 

[Lobo]

Sage, check that link i sent you

 

[The Sage]

Sage, check that link i sent you

Oh ok.

 

[cerealkiller182]

To appreciate the movie? No. To go see it with no A-list stars? yes.

Look at Wanted. Nobody outside the comic community had any idea what that was...also nobody gives a **** about James McAvoy even though he's talented.

All I heard was "the new Angelina Jolie movie"

and people went and saw it!

if you get a Jolie in this movie and its decent it'll do well. If you don't it probably wont.

But thats because there was Angelina Jolie. If there was no Jolie it wouldnt be considered the new Angelina Jolie movie it would be considered another generic action movie (cause thats exactly what it was marketed as). Thats exactly what you meant but that doesnt mean its always true, but I think the "equation" you're implying is more often than not because a name actor enters a less marketable movie. Western genre is seeing a small reemergance led by a few great pictures here and there instead of one every summer that could range anywhere from lame to incredble (ie superheroes and generic action movies). Assasination of Jesse James was not "that Brad Pitt western" it was all about Casey Affleck who at the time was in a similar situation to Brolin. Supporting actor in many great flicks and a few Oscar buzz movies (Gone Baby Gone got robbed!)

If Brad Pitt and George Clooney could be in every role the studio would put them into them but they cant. Jonah Hex is exactly the kinda movie someone can cut their teeth on. Relatively low-tech, low-budget flick with a talented actor , one whose name might not be recognizable (except for his dad) but his face probably is (he was in the Goonies afterall). This is a "breakout" kinda role.

 

[Ronny Shade]

Y'all are going to laugh, but I'd love to see Nick Cage in this part.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Y'all are going to laugh, but I'd love to see Nick Cage in this part.

I'd like to see Nick Cage remember how to act. Oh Nick, how far you have fallen...

 

[Double Down]

Brolin is definitely a solid choice.

 

[StorminNorman]

When was the last time anybody has ever said "hey let's go out and see that new Josh Brolin movie"?

Westerns are a niche market, so are comic book movies; they need somebody bigger like a Viggo Mortensen who has established a fanbase among both western and fantasy genres.

Wait

Wait

Wait

Wait

Wait

Wait

When the **** was the last time anyone said "lets go see the new Viggo Mortensen movie?" As far as name recognition goes, the two are equals.

 

[Ronny Shade]

right Viggo has LOTR and Brolin has Planet Terror

 

[cerealkiller182]

Viggo had LOTR but after that nothing as successful (although still good as far as Im concerned). His name is as recognizable as Brolins though, that I agree.

 

[Philly Phanboy]

And, they could always cast a bigger name than Brolin as the villain Quentin Turnbull. A name that will draw the general audience.

That's probably what they're going to need to do.

Of course a bigger name villain method seems to only work fine when the comic's hero is known to the public (Spider-Man, Superman Returns) but not so much when the character is fairly unknown (Spawn, Punisher).

Here's hoping they might buck the trend...

 

[Batspider77]

Very good Casting Choice.....i just hope this Movie will turn out violent and rude, exactly like this Kick ass Script from Mark Neveldine & Brian Taylor.
I couldn´t stand it if this turns out another Wild Wild West.

 

[Antonello Blueberry]

People here seems to forget that Brolin is the star of W. and the early reviews say great things about his performance, someone openly said it's Oscar worthy.
And not every comic-book movie needs to have Iron Man budget and gross.
Regarding Viggo Mortensen as the key to success at the box office, it's not like Appaloosa is doing great numbers? And how much money did Alatriste make? And Hidalgo?

 

[Dark Knight]

Great casting if true!

WB's getting Gosling possibly for Green Lantern and now maybe Brolin for Jonah would be steals if they can get it done.

To bad though because I was hoping Brolin would be cast as Green Arrow in the eventual SuperMax film....but he will be solid as Jonah Hex.

 

[[A]]

Come on Jonah Hex thread--beat that Green Lantern!

 

[Philly Phanboy]

People here seems to forget that Brolin is the star of W. and the early reviews say great things about his performance, someone openly said it's Oscar worthy.

Nobody here has said Brolin lacks the acting chops, it's his credibility as somebody the general public would pay to see that is up in the air. My guess is that this will end up being one of those cult classics and not a box office success.

And not every comic-book movie needs to have Iron Man budget and gross.
Regarding Viggo Mortensen as the key to success at the box office, it's not like Appaloosa is doing great numbers? And how much money did Alatriste make? And Hidalgo?

Josh has only been the top billed actor for a skateboard movie from the 80's, the upcoming W and maybe this movie; and his western cred consists of a pony express series with Stephen Baldwin and a made for TV movie neither of which he had top billing. Comparing Josh's resume and bankability to Viggo's is absurd.

 

[chamber-music]

Viggo had LOTR but after that nothing as successful (although still good as far as Im concerned). His name is as recognizable as Brolins though, that I agree.

Brolins will always be Mikeys brother from the Goonies. I liked him in american Gangster, Mimic and Hollow Man (although Kevin Bacon deserved better).

 

[[A]]

Jeff Wells is reporting that his sources tell him that Josh Brolin is signing on as Jonah Hex in the big screen movie based on the DC Comics western hero to be directed by Neveldine & Taylor, the madmen behind Crank. Brolin's people told Wells that the story wasn't true, but he's still hearing that the deal is done.

I immediately ran to Google because I had heard this story before, but I can't find it anywhere on the web. That may mean I heard it in an 'off the record' conversation, but while I can't remember who told it to me, I do remember that I heard it some time ago.

Brolin would be pretty terrific in the role, and this would be the kind of franchise that a guy at his age could ride for a good long while, assuming it connects with audiences (and considering that the film is a supernatural sci-fi western, that's a big assumption). And with his career resurgance over the last few years, a franchise is just what he's looking for.

But is it true? I'll check around, but am not convinced I'll get any answers. Either what I heard about Brolin being interested and being courted a long time ago is true, or Wells is getting old news that is already outdated.

http://chud.com/articles/articles/16579/1/PUTTING-A-JONAH-HEX-ON-GEORGE-BUSH/Page1.html

 

[Evil Twin]

Josh has only been the top billed actor for a skateboard movie from the 80's, the upcoming W and maybe this movie; and his western cred consists of a pony express series with Stephen Baldwin and a made for TV movie neither of which he had top billing. Comparing Josh's resume and bankability to Viggo's is absurd.

Western cred? If you don't consider No Country for Old Men at least Western influenced, you weren't paying attention.

Also, Viggo has no bankability. Seriously, the only movies of his that were big hits were LOTR, and he was a supporting character in those. Appaloosa, Alatriste, Eastern Promises, A History of Violence, and Hidaldgo didn't set the box office on fire. Maybe The Road will change that, but there's no evidence that his name brings out people in substantial numbers.

Both are good actors. Neither is a box office draw. Heck, who says Viggo is even interested?

By the way, I don't think anyone is suggesting that Jonah Hex cost $100 million and open in the middle of Summer. You don't need high priced actors if you keep the budget reasonable and pick a good opening date, like March 2010. I could certainly see it marketed as a followup to 300 and Watchmen if WB marketing is on the ball.

Edit: Heck, why are we even concerned about how much bank Jonah Hex will make? Do you have stock in WB? I'm much more concerned about whether it's a good movie and Josh Brolin should do a fine job in the role. Let the accountants worry about the rest.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Josh has only been the top billed actor for a skateboard movie from the 80's, the upcoming W and maybe this movie; and his western cred consists of a pony express series with Stephen Baldwin and a made for TV movie neither of which he had top billing. Comparing Josh's resume and bankability to Viggo's is absurd.

Of course, when you look at Westerns, Mortensen's resume is mediocre-to-awful, while Josh Brolin is hot off a modern-day Western that just won Best Picture at the Oscars. Then again, if you look at "A History of Violence" as a modern-day Western too, I guess you could call them about even on that front.

I'd hardly say comparing Brolin's resume and bankability to Mortensen's is absurd. When you take LOTR out of the equation (I'd hardly say people were calling them "the new Viggo Mortensen movies") both guys are comparable in terms of star power. Both great actors, and both have succeeded in leading roles, but neither is a box office titan. I don't see how you think Mortensen = box office smash, but Brolin = box office poison. It seems to me that you'd have been as critical of anyone announced in this thread whose name wasn't Viggo Mortensen.

You say that with Brolin in the lead, "Jonah Hex" will be a cult movie instead of a box office smash. But it's going to be a cult film anyway. It's based off a cult comic book. This isn't some huge summer blockbuster with a titanic budget. I'm sure it'll be a modestly-budgeted action film, with a modest box office return expected. And that's what it'll probably get, whether it's Brolin or Mortensen in the leading role.