Our friends at Film School Rejects just received word personally from Tom Jane regarding the origins of the artwork above and his (non-)involvement in the DC Comics adaptation Jonah Hex…
“Yeah, the pic is real all right – my pal [writer/producer] Akiva Goldsman told me about the project and I fell in love with the idea right away. Being a huge fan of all things Hex – I just couldn’t help myself. I called up my buddy Chris Nelson and we spent a Saturday afternoon working up some make-up for this impromptu shoot and I fired a few pics off to Warners. How do people get a hold of this shit? It’s a little embarrassing seeing my fanboy enthusiasm spilled all over the web, but great scripts don’t come around too often, especially for characters I love.”
On one hand, it’s rather awkward that Hex writer/directors Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (Crank, awesomeness) didn’t see the above art until it flamed out across the Web. Neveldine even emailed Shock to say he had ”no clue” what the art was for. But maybe this will start a dialogue with Jane for the role, who knows? The actor’s fallout with the Punisher franchise was unfortunate and I’m always hoping to see him in another role that’s as break-out bananas as his Todd in Boogie Nights or his lead in the underrated Stander. This project has definitely moved up as one of my more anticipated comics-to-film. Just imagine: House 2 meets Crank 2. C’mon.
Jonah Hex is a former alcoholic and confederate soldier turned supernatural loner and gunslinger. He received his signature scar at the hands of Indians who placed a hot tomahawk to his face. His mother was a prostitute and his dad sold him into slavery. Total winner. Based on this decade’s Vertigo series, Neveldine/Taylor have said they’ll focus on the supernatural elements (zombies, et al) and want to build a viable franchise. With Cowboys and Aliens also on the way (possibly with RDJ), we only need one more flick to make Genre Westerns a trend.
Discuss: Would Jane make a good Jonah Hex? Anyone read the script?
June 20th, 2008 at 10:46 am
At first glance, he looks like a young Harrison Ford…which is pretty badass.
June 20th, 2008 at 10:56 am
It’s kind of sad that we’re going to get a Jonah Hex movie before a Green Lantern, Flash, or Wonder Woman one.
June 20th, 2008 at 11:05 am
I like Thomas Jane a lot. Liked him in Punisher, loved him in The Mist
June 20th, 2008 at 11:45 am
I think he’d make a great Connor MacLeod in a Highlander remake.
June 20th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
I don’t know. He was great in The Mist, but that’s really the only film I liked him in that much. But with enough make-up, anyone can fit a part physically. :)
June 20th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Jonah Hex script review over this way. http://www.latinoreview.com/scriptreview.php?id=75
Personally, I think Jane would be great for the role. That picture shows a whole lot of potential. I just hope WB is smart about casting and not toning down the script.
June 22nd, 2008 at 8:09 am
Jane would have to dye his hair jonah does not have black hair
his features do not match Jonah …. not to say that Jane could pull it off. but I think that Fillion would be a better choice or that actor who played that soldier in the transformers who talked to his wife on the puter .that’s my opinion anyway mmm could be wrong but I doubt it.