Scott W. Davis
10-02-2003, 02:06 AM
[I 180w ricci_02 I]Part of me, a large part of me, rues the day I ever heard of CURSED. It makes me look like the Grinch before his heart transplant, like some Liz Smith of the horror world - and believe me, Liz Smith is horrifying enough. But in fact, I am constantly hoping things will turn for the better. I don't want to report on the bad news of horror. I want the good news. I like hope, especially when it concerns this much-maligned genre.
So, I felt some since of relief that is reporting that after delays upon delays, Wes Craven's CURSED is finally set to resume shooting on November 17. Christina Ricci, Jesse Eisenberg, Scott Foley and Shannon Elizabeth will all return for the filming. is keen to point out that this does NOT mean the rest of the cast is cut out from the film. It just means they won't be needed when filming commences.
You will recall that the shooting was called off after the suits became unhappy with the film. The crew has now retooled the final act, rewrote parts of the script around the CGI, replaced Rick Baker (who left on his own) with the KNB crew and altogether tried to keep the bitching to a minimum and not with resounding success.
And yet, the news is still amazingly suspect.
First of all, with filming due to resume on the film in six weeks, they've decided to open casting for "a new lead character for the film." Yes, not just a new character, but a "lead character." FilmJerk says, "According to our sources, and backed up by casting documents we have obtained, producers are looking to cast a character named Jake, who is in listed as being in his mid-to-late 20s. Described as 'the ultimate leading man of mystery, he is handsome, with deep, piercing eyes and a small town charm. But there is also a real sense of darkness that is simultaneously unreachable and irresistible. With a secret life and questionable motives, he is someone to be approached with caution.' Wow, I bet the Weinsteins practically spilled man-juice all over their desks with that description.
Another casting choice will be made in the role of Zela, a "free-spirted fortuneteller... who offers sound words of caution to those who have fallen under the cloud of a darker fate." This role is only a cameo, however.
This is not all that has changed, however. Also changing is the plot synopsis, or at least the way the film is being marketed while still in production. In the early stages, we were hearing tell of a serial killer in New York City who may be a werewolf. Then, we hear the real plot, about three strangers who have been attacked by a werewolf. They unite to kill the werewolf and bring an end to the curse before it's too late. Okay, sounds good. But, now that has changed. As FilmJerk puts it: "The film is now described as focusing on an estranged brother and sister, who are mourning the recent loss of their parents, struggling with daily life in the Los Angeles until a vicious animal attack changes everything one dark night. Now they must fight for survival against the one thing they never expected: the curse of the werewolf." Well, that's a bit of a change from a NYC serial killer.
I swear someone should write a book on this. No word on if CURSED will make it's February 2004 release date, but at least it will be filming once again.
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[I 30h ricci_doll I]Comment on the ironically-titled CURSED in our !
So, I felt some since of relief that is reporting that after delays upon delays, Wes Craven's CURSED is finally set to resume shooting on November 17. Christina Ricci, Jesse Eisenberg, Scott Foley and Shannon Elizabeth will all return for the filming. is keen to point out that this does NOT mean the rest of the cast is cut out from the film. It just means they won't be needed when filming commences.
You will recall that the shooting was called off after the suits became unhappy with the film. The crew has now retooled the final act, rewrote parts of the script around the CGI, replaced Rick Baker (who left on his own) with the KNB crew and altogether tried to keep the bitching to a minimum and not with resounding success.
And yet, the news is still amazingly suspect.
First of all, with filming due to resume on the film in six weeks, they've decided to open casting for "a new lead character for the film." Yes, not just a new character, but a "lead character." FilmJerk says, "According to our sources, and backed up by casting documents we have obtained, producers are looking to cast a character named Jake, who is in listed as being in his mid-to-late 20s. Described as 'the ultimate leading man of mystery, he is handsome, with deep, piercing eyes and a small town charm. But there is also a real sense of darkness that is simultaneously unreachable and irresistible. With a secret life and questionable motives, he is someone to be approached with caution.' Wow, I bet the Weinsteins practically spilled man-juice all over their desks with that description.
Another casting choice will be made in the role of Zela, a "free-spirted fortuneteller... who offers sound words of caution to those who have fallen under the cloud of a darker fate." This role is only a cameo, however.
This is not all that has changed, however. Also changing is the plot synopsis, or at least the way the film is being marketed while still in production. In the early stages, we were hearing tell of a serial killer in New York City who may be a werewolf. Then, we hear the real plot, about three strangers who have been attacked by a werewolf. They unite to kill the werewolf and bring an end to the curse before it's too late. Okay, sounds good. But, now that has changed. As FilmJerk puts it: "The film is now described as focusing on an estranged brother and sister, who are mourning the recent loss of their parents, struggling with daily life in the Los Angeles until a vicious animal attack changes everything one dark night. Now they must fight for survival against the one thing they never expected: the curse of the werewolf." Well, that's a bit of a change from a NYC serial killer.
I swear someone should write a book on this. No word on if CURSED will make it's February 2004 release date, but at least it will be filming once again.
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[I 30h ricci_doll I]Comment on the ironically-titled CURSED in our !