Caffeinated Clint
Reveals the cast of his next Stephen King-penned pic
Frank Darabont (“The Green Mile”, “The Shawshank Redemption”) waxed lyrical with the gang from Stephen King fansite today, Liljas Library, about his next movie – again, based on a King yarn – “The Mist”.
Among topics discussed, the cast of the upcoming book cum movie. At this stage, only “Punisher” boy Thomas Jane has been announced.
Darabont says the cast also includes “Laurie Holden, who was my leading lady in The Majestic and recently played the motorcycle cop in Silent Hill. She’s probably best known to fans as Marita Covarrubias from X-Files. Gorgeous and incredibly talented. Very excited to be working with her again. Also Andre Braugher — a hugely talented man, I’ve been a fan of his since Glory. Frances Sternhagen, who is a legend, will play Irene…folks may remember her from Starting Over, Outland, and Misery. Alexa Davalos…wow, a remarkable young lady, a stunning new talent. Let me be the first to predict she’s going to have an amazing career — remember, you heard it here first. Sam Witwer, a terrific young actor who played Crashdown on Battlestar Galactica. Plus a few of my stalwarts that I love working with again and again: Bill Sadler (Heywood in The Shawshank Redemption and the father of the two dead girls in The Green Mile), Jeff DeMunn (who’s been in every movie I’ve made starting with The Shawshank Redemption)…and, hey, I just cast Brian Libby! The real hardcore fans will recognize him as The Prisoner from my Stephen King short, The Woman in the Room…plus he was Floyd in The Shawshank Redemption. It’ll be great to work with him again.”
As for rumours that Michael J.Fox has been offered a role in the film – not true, says the filmmaker.
“I remember that rumor! That was a persistent one! No, I’ve actually never met Michael J. Fox, nor had I ever gotten any indication of interest from him. But I am a fan. I was watching Back to the Future just last night…it’s been all over satellite TV the last few weeks…love that movie, and love him. I’m very sorry he’s dealing with the severe health issues he’s been facing. He’s very courageous. Nobody deserves that…except maybe the assholes in power in this country who are blocking stem cell research at every turn. Those preposterous, uncompassionate turds. God, if you’re listening: let them get sick, we’ll see how fast the arguments go away and the funding happens.”
Darabont, among other projects, also mentions that he liked to make a film out of the “Dark Tower” yarns.
“Steve [King] and I have kicked the idea around of doing The Dark Tower some day. Man, I love those books — they’re glorious, Steve’s magnum opus. But to be honest, it’s merely been idle talk. I’ve told him the thought of adapting that saga makes me break out in a cold sweat, curl into a ball, and weep. It’s just so metaphysical and trippy, so much of it almost impossible stuff to visualize on screen. Not to mention it’s just staggeringly huge and massive! I don’t think I’d even know where to begin! Hey, you thought The Green Mile was long? You ain’t seen nothin’ yet! I’m afraid The Dark Tower might make the expanded Lord of the Rings trilogy look like a short subject. As long-winded as I am, I’m probably better off sticking to Stephen King’s short stories and novellas.”
You can read the full interview here.
Thanks to ‘Kris’
