Deadline confirms that Sharlto Copley has landed the villain role of Adrian Pryce in Spike Lee's "Oldboy" remake, who makes life hell for Josh Brolin's Joe Douchett.
Originally published 04/12/12: After cycling through Colin Firth and Clive Owen, Spike Lee is hoping he's finally found the villain for his brewing remake of "Oldboy."
Variety reports that Sharlto Copley ("District 9," "The A-Team") is the latest actor to be offered the meaty role in the film. The actor has been selective after his breakout turn in Neill Blomkamp's film — and he's got the sci-fi film "Europa" on the horizon — but this would easily be most talked about gig yet. As you already known, the movie is a remake of Park Chan-wook's fantastic, twisted film, with screenwriter Mark Protosevich also turning to the manga to help with this reboot.
So far only Josh Brolin is locked to star, and the female lead has been just as hard to nail down. Rooney Mara turned it down, Mia Wasikowska also passed, while Elizabeth Olsen has revealed she's been approached and would love to do it. And it seems as if it's coming together as the trade reveals she'll be playing a caseworker who assists Brolin in the film. Lee recently spoke to the Wall Street Journal and said, “We’re anticipating starting production this September, and we should be finished by year’s end." He also left this morsel to tease fans with adding it will “definitely be an interpretation, not a straight adaptation” and “it actually has a darker take on the ending, if you can believe that’s even possible.”
We're definitely curious. Let's hope he can get a cast locked up so this thing can start moving forward.