Well, this just got interesting. Actually, this just got even more interesting. With Michael Douglas already slotted to play Ronald Reagan, his Cold War foe in the upcoming "Reykjavik" has been cast and it's an actor who is increasingly becoming something of a chameleon on screen.
Christoph Watlz has landed the role of Mikhail Gorbachev in the film that at one time was originally slated for Ridley Scott. Now set to be directed by Mike Newell ("Donnie Brasco," "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire," "Great Expectations") "Reykjavik," with a script by British playwright Kevin Hood ("Becoming Jane"), concerns a few crucial days in 1986 when Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev met in a spa in the titular Icelandic capital to talk about peace between America and the Soviet Union. This conversation happened shortly after the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown.
Douglas vs. Waltz? Yep, sounds good to us. With the picture bringing together two pretty dynamic actors embodying two of the most important political figures in recent times, this seems like a slam dunk. That said, Newell's track record is as all over the place as is the variety of movies he's directed. He's certainly got two great actors to work with though, so let's hope this can live up to its potential. Filming will kick off next March. [Variety]