Collider is reporting that Collin Chou, one of the two reported leads of The Wachowski Brothers-produced, James McTeigue (V for Vendetta) directed Ninja Assassin, has dropped out of the project for unknown reasons. The film was scheduled to start production in just a few weeks in Berlin. I wonder if that time table might have been pushed back as it sounds like the cast is not completely finalized. All we know about the movie is that it’s an original martial arts movie with a revenge storyline. The Wachowski Brothers, the guy who made V For Vendetta and a martial arts revenge story? Count me in.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:15 am
If they’re smart, they’ll get Donnie Yen. Did any of you see his latest film, “Flash Point”?
Amazing.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:16 am
And I agree Peter, these guys doing a ninja movie? Fuck yes!
The world can always use more ninja movies :)
April 14th, 2008 at 11:12 am
I hoping it will end up very similar to Shogun Assassin. Anyone else?
April 14th, 2008 at 11:13 am
I’m*
April 14th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
I doubt anyone would know here, but if one were seriously interested in contacting the casting department of this production. How would one go about doing that?
April 14th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Its a shame Lee Van Cleef didn’t live to see this day. He was the GREATEST NINJA EVER.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Sounds..amazing.
Director of V, and WB..I’m in as well.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I’m definitely down for Donnie Yen.
April 14th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Maybe Collin Chou did not want to get stereotyped as a martial arts movie star. Didn’t want to trek down the road that ends in straight to video (opps, I meant DVD). Considering how it’s happen to every martial artist star that has ever started in a hit movie. List test this theory: Michael Dudikoff (American Ninja) Dolph Lundren (Showdown in Little Tokyo) Wesley Snipes (Any one of his 90’s martial arts flicks) Jean-Claude Van Damme (again same deal) and anyone else I missed.
April 14th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Azure,
The problem is those guys you named couldn’t sell a martial arts fight scene to save their lives. Maybe out of the lot Snipes could better than most of those guys. Luckily we have real hong kong artists who could.
Not sure I find Chou a loss to the project. Since it is about ninjas.
April 14th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Ninjas! When was the last good ninja movie? There is pent up demand. This movie can’t lose. The only way it’ll do bigger bank is if they’re fighting robots!
June 16th, 2008 at 6:19 am
Chou left cause Rain has no “control” and kept hitting Chou in the face when practicing for fight scenes. Rain is so clumsy he couldn’t perform the martial arts moves up to the standards Chou requires in order for his moves to look realistic to the audience, so he left.
No clue as to why the Wachowski’s want a non-martial Artist such as Rain to lead in Ninja AssAssIn. Maybe it’s his fanbase they’re after instead of authentic Martial Arts ability. Nevertheless, Chou would’ve been great in that movie. I probably won’t see it now, since I already know how Rain acts, ie Speed Racer,…