Bittersweet news today as Samuel L. Jackson has joined the cast of Spike Lee’s Oldboy remake in a vital role. According to the LA Times, the actor is in for Spike Lee’s remake, but he won’t be playing the squid sushi that gets eaten alive.
Instead, and spoiler alert here for those who haven’t seen the original, Jackson will be playing a thug who the protagonist (played here by Josh Brolin) confronts with a very interesting grab from the toolbox. It was an iconic moment in the original flick which led into an even more unforgettable sequence involving that same tool and a very long, enemy-filled hallway.
It’s a fascinating casting choice because it will require Jackson to shed almost all of his typical rough exterior in favor for making Brolin look even tougher. On that front, it’s an excellent way to give violent credibility, and it could lead to a great, counter-intuitive performance from Jackson. Very exciting.
Also exciting is the news that Bruce Hornsby will be composing the score for the film, which means that Grateful Dead completists are in for a crazy movie.
