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Joe Carnahan Hints At Robert Downey, Jr. For DEATH WISH Remake

Robert Downey, Jr. in Zodiac

Director demonstrates loose lips on the Geektime show.

The Death Wish remake has been assembled on the downlow to this point, with director Joe Carnahan letting out just a few key details here and there to keep the project in the periphery of fans.   He has mentioned that the original novel will serve as the key source material for the new film, while also saying that this new version will be moved out west to Los Angeles.  Specifically, what he refers to as the “hidden Los Angeles” of films like Collateral, Drive, and Heat.

Today on Sirius XM’s Geektime show, hosted by Ralph Cirella on Howard 101, Carnahan issued an All The President’s Men-style confirmation as to who would play the lead role of Paul Kersey.  Carnahan told the Geektime crew he couldn’t say who the star would be, but did say if the crew guessed correctly, he would confirm by saying nothing at all.  After Carnahan dropped a couple of clues as to the identity of the mystery man, co-host Steve Brandano guessed “Robert Downey, Jr.” on his first try, which Carnahan confirmed with his silence.

For me, the choice instantly makes this project about ten times more interesting.  I can see Downey knocking the role out of the park.  The part will be unlike anything that he has ever taken on before, and will be an abrupt departure from his highest-profile role as pithy billionaire Tony Stark in the Iron Man/Avengers films.

Carnahan also mentioned that the screenplay was half complete, and reiterated his commitment to using the original novel as the bible for the new film.  He expanded on recent scouting trips around different areas of Los Angeles that he felt other directors were (paraphrasing, here) basically too scared to check out.

Our ears are officially pricked skyward for any more news coming out of the Death Wish camp, and you can bet that we’ll bring any and all updates your way just as soon as we have them.

About Josh Converse

+Josh Converse work has appeared in Crime Factory, Plots with Guns, Black Heart Magazine, Out Of the Gutter, and A Twist of Noir. He is the only person to have ever simultaneously held the WBO and WBC middleweight and welterweight titles without any witnesses. Josh can talk his way out of any situation, particularly when on the cusp of runaway success. In 2010, he was the recipient of Nick Tosches’ final apology. He lives and works and eats cereal in Chicago.

One Comment

  1. George Otwori

    June 16, 2012 at 10:11 pm

    If Robert Downey Jr turns it down hope Josh Brolin comes into consideration.

    Reply

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