The Green Hornet starts production

Green Hornet’s release date may have been bumped back a few months, but the good news is that hasn’t slowed down the film’s production process. Sony announced today that filming has commenced on The Green Hornet, directed by Michel Gondry and starring Seth Rogen, Jay Chou and Cameron Diaz. Also new to the cast are Tom Wilkinson and David Harbour. Read the press release below!

CULVER CITY, Calif., September 2, 2009 – A classic character of film, television, radio and comic books returns to the big screen in Columbia Pictures’ feature film The Green Hornet, starring Seth Rogen (Superbad, Knocked Up) as the vigilante crime-fighter. Production is underway on the Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) helmed film, which is produced by Neal H. Moritz (I Am Legend, The Fast and the Furious) and executive produced by Michael Grillo (The Accidental Tourist), Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg (Superbad, Pineapple Express), Ori Marmur (Evan Almighty) and George W. Trendle, Jr. The screenplay is by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg, based upon “The Green Hornet” radio series created by George W. Trendle and shoots entirely in Los Angeles. The film is set for release December 17, 2010.

In addition to Rogen, the film also stars Taiwanese actor-pop star Jay Chou as Kato, Cameron Diaz (Charlie’s Angels, What Happens in Vegas), Edward James Olmos (“Battlestar Galactica”), David Harbour (Revolutionary Road) and Tom Wilkinson (Valkyrie). Nicolas Cage is also in negotiations to appear in the film.

Academy Award®-nominee John Schwartzman (Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian) is the director of photography. Production designer is Owen Paterson (The Matrix Revolutions), Kym Barrett (Speed Racer) serves as costume designer and Michael Tronick (Mr. & Mrs. Smith) is editing.

The Green Hornet gets pushed back

The upcoming Seth Rogen comic book movie, The Green Hornet has been pushed back a whopping 5 months, from its previous July 7th summer release date next year to December 17th. There’s been no official reason given for the move, but its star Rogen has responded himself to the news by saying:

“We’re both [me and Michel Gondry are] relieved and psyched about the change. It gives more time for post [-production], which would have been immensely rushed if we were to come out in the summer. It also affords us more time to promote the film, (now we can go to Comic-Con with more than a car!) and ultimately is a great vote of confidence from the studio.”

It has certainly been a rocky road for The Green Hornet, with one notable obstacle being Stephen Chow sadly dropping out, first as director, then as an actor in the role of the titular character’s sidekick, Kato. But with an extremely talented director coming on board in the form of Michel Gondry, and recently Nicolas Cage, Cameron Diaz and Jay Chou being cast, it looked like things were firmly on the road for the release next summer.

However, as HitFix notes, principle photography hasn’t even started yet, and I don’t think with a project like The Green Hornet that anyone involved wants it to be rushed. Also, the highly anticipated (arguably even more than this movie) Predators would have made for heavy competition as it’s also scheduled to open on July 7th next year. On top of that, a December release sets The Green Hornet apart from all the other summer movies that it will compete with.

What do you think about The Green Hornet being delayed for a whole five months? Do you think it makes sense or should they have just kept the original summer release date?

Source: ScreenRant.com

More details on Cameron’s Green Hornet role

As previously mentioned, Cameron is set to star in The Green Hornet with Seth Rogen. However, the role might not be the female lead/love interest, as some ‘sources’ have reported. Here’s what Cami herself said about the role:

“I’m playing one of the gals in it,” she revealed. “It’s just a small part.”

Though her role may be small, the actress said she is thrilled to join the potential superhero franchise.

“I’m very excited about it – very excited,” she added.

So Cameron won’t be the lead in this movie, perhaps she took a small(er) role to have time with the yet untitled James Mangold project, which is slated to start filming in early fall as well? Stay tuned for more on both of these projects.

Cameron confirms her role in The Green Hornet!

Comic-Con brought a lot of news to the table! Not only did Cameron Diaz, James Marsden and Richard Kelly (director) reveal clips from The Box, but Cameron also confirmed that she is, indeed, on board to star in The Green Hornet! Check out the interview from MTV News where she talks about her role as Lenore Case and the movie.

Also, stay tuned for coverage from The Box panel at 2009 Comic-Con!

More details regarding The Green Hornet

During the 2009 Comic-Con, actor Seth Rogen and director Michael Gondry revealed more details regarding The Green Hornet. Cameron Diaz is rumored to star as Rogen’s love interest in the action/comedy film. Check out what they said about her character below!

“Lenore Case, would be her role,” Rogen said of Diaz, confirming that out of the several female leads in the “Green Hornet” radio, TV and movie incarnations over the last 70 years, the “Charlie’s Angels” star will be playing the character nicknamed “Casey.” “Assuming all the deals close, which it looks like they will.”

“In the original show there was Britt Reid, Kato and Lenore Case their secretary,” explained Evan Goldberg, Rogen’s longtime writing/producing partner. “She was one of the only people who knew they were The Green Hornet and Kato. Cameron Diaz is a new development, we’re real excited, she plays a secretary for Britt Reid.”

As director Michael Gondry was quick to point out, however, their take on Casey will be quite different – including a Lois Lane-like obliviousness to GH’s identity, and an affinity for crime TV.

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