'Green Hornet' finds its villain in Christoph Waltz

By Jay A. Fernandez

Holy crow! Christoph Waltz will parlay his supple villainy from the "Inglourious Basterds" to "The Green Hornet."

The Austrian actor, who's been fielding an avalanche of praise (including the best actor award at Cannes) for his role as a nefariously charming Nazi colonel in Quentin Tarantino's latest film, has been cast as the heavy opposite Seth Rogen in Columbia's latest feature about a masked crime fighter. Waltz joins Cameron Diaz and Asian pop star Jay Chou in the cast.

Rogen and Evan Goldberg wrote the screenplay, inspired by the radio series created by George W. Trendle and Fran Striker in the 1930s. Michel Gondry is directing the potential franchise-starter for a December 2010 release.

The Green Hornet character has appeared in film, TV and comic book form over the last seven decades. A newspaper publisher by day, Britt Reid dons the mask and seeks justice in the night with the help of his sidekick, Kato, and techno-savvy car, Black Beauty.

Nicolas Cage was once considered for the baddie role, but never made a deal with the studio.

The ICM-repped Waltz has appeared in the features "Lapislazuli," "Berlin Blues," "Gun-Shy," "Ordinary Decent Criminal" and "GoldenEye."

Comments

[christmas stocking fillers]

Good for him. I’m not sure exactly how successful this Green Hornet will be though. When one thinks of film hero, Seth Rogen usually doesn’t come to mind. And Cameron Diaz? I always wonder why she keeps getting hired as she offers nothing in the projects she is in.But good for Waltz. And thank god we have Tarantino bringing us new or forgotten talent to the forefront. Too bad more Hollywood directors aren’t more like him. If they were, then we wouldn’t have to endure with the same boring people in films.However, if producers want to hire a true villain, then get Kanye West. I doubt if anybody can play the villain like he can.

[4gb pro duo]

Hi,
we have Tarantino bringing us new or forgotten talent to the forefront. Too bad more Hollywood directors aren’t more like him.