Caffeinated Clint
One of Australia’s best-known young actors
Australia’s Sam Worthington will star in James Cameron’s next film “Avatar”.
Fox made the announcement this morning, saying Jim had searched the world over for his lead and discovered him half-a-slab later in a smoky old pub in Sydney (well, I’m guessing).
I had heard this casting titbit a couple of days back from some of the troops doing the whiz-bang effects on the film, but didn’t want to let the cat out of the bag – just in case Sambo was still in the negotiation stages, which apparently he has been for a few months now. It was between him and another chap. Nice going Sam.
For those reading that have no frickin’ idea “who this Sam guy is”, let me just tell you that he’s one of the best Australian actors around – and I’m not at all surprised that Hollywood has snapped him up. He recently played the lead role in the hoodlum version of “Macbeth”, and is also worth checking out in “Dirty Deeds” with Bryan Brown and “Somersault” with [another rising export] Abbie Cornish. U.S audiences will get their first (well, second; he actually had a small role in “Harts War” with Bruce Willis a few years back) taste of Worthington when he appears in the giant crocodile pic, “Rogue”, from Greg McLean (“Wolf Creek”), opening in August (was originally due for release in Feb, but has been pushed back).
“Avatar” is the story of a wounded ex-marine, thrust unwillingly into an effort to settle and exploit an exotic planet rich in bio-diversity, who eventually crosses over to lead the indigenous race in a battle for survival.
Zoe Saldana (“The Terminal”, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl”) will portray the local woman Jake first betrays, then loves.
Said Cameron, “For me, as a lifelong fan of science fiction and action, ‘Avatar’ is a dream project. We’re creating an entire world, a complete ecosystem of phantasmagorical plants and creatures, and a native people with a rich culture and language. The story is both epic and emotional. The two things that make this film even possible are pioneering advances in CG effects and performance capture, as well as my 22 year relationship with Fox, since only with great trust can you operate so close to the cutting edge. I plan to honor that relationship by bringing them a winner. And I have the team to do it, the best team of artists and technicians I’ve ever been privileged to work with. This one’s going to be a grand adventure.”
“Every year, our business makes hundreds of films, most of which come and go. But a Jim Cameron film is different,” said Tom Rothman and Jim Gianopulos. “Jim’s movies raise the bar, both in storytelling and use of technology. ‘Avatar’ will do so again. The world he has created is breathtaking and the action breathless. It will take two more years, but in the summer of 2009, ‘Avatar’ will be a seismic change in the movie going experience.”
Worthington joins Cameron on set from April.
Worthington is actually someone I suggested to you-know-who that should be considered for Mad Max.
I mean, if Max is going to be recast – in many respects, I think Mel Gibson’s name being attached to the project merely helped entice investors to the project first time around, despite the fact that he had no plan to do it – let it be an Aussie. Screw the bleached-haired young puppets that want in on this role… it deserves to be played by an Aussie. It’s an Aussie character. An Aussie legend. An Aussie icon. Worthington’s one of the best around – which Cameron has obviously discovered – and can really kick butt too (check him out in “Dirty Deeds” or “Rogue”), so hopefully his name now means enough to the Burbank crew (though Warner might not necessarily be making “Mad Max 4”, although I hear they have made Miller an offer he can’t refuse branching from the bucks that “Happy Feet” has brought in for them) to try and make it happen.
