A couple of interesting casting tidbits fall into the categories of predictable, what-the-... and delicious.
Predictable: At the D23 convention this past weekend(Disney's answer to Comic-Con, with a nod toward Walt Disney founding the studio in 1923), Johnny Depp appeared decked out in the apparel and mascara of a certain pirate we all know and love. "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," the fourth movie in the series, will arrive in summer 2011. The first three movies grossed more than $1 billion in North America alone.
Unpredictable: Disney executives also announced that Depp will portray Tonto, faithful sidekick to "The Lone Ranger," in a live-action film of the long-running TV western. There was no word on who will be wearing the mask and white hat. There was no word on who will be held responsible for this hair-brained scheme.
Delicious: I remember watching movies from the 1960s and 1970s with all-star casts that included a few foreign stars, and I remember how often those actors I didn't know nearly stole the show.
Now I'm wondering the same thing about Christoph Waltz, who as the sadistic Nazi Col. Hans Landa makes "Inglourious Basterds" made for a brilliant movie bad-guy, lifting up the fun but uneven film.
Brad Pitt is amusing, but Waltz was a killer.
Now, less than a week after Nicolas Cage dropped out of playing the villain role in next year's comic-book movie "The Green Hornet," Waltz has taken his place.
I had already questioned the casting of Seth Rogen in the Hornet role. Now I'm wondering if the comedy star isn't going to be blown off the screen.
Suddenly, thanks to the talented foreigner, I'm intrigued to see a movie that a week ago sounded like a bad joke.
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