Kevin talks GREEN HORNET

By: Patrick Sauriol
Date: Thursday, February 19, 2004
Source: View Askew

Over at Ground Zero for Kevin Smith fans, the JERSEY GIRL director told his fans in his own words what the latest inside news was on Smith's newly announced GREEN HORNET movie project.

Smith explained that he had climbed onboard Miramax's superhero project by chance when he eavesdropped on a phone conversation with Miramax executive Jon Gordon. From that Smith wrote an outline for his idea of a GREEN HORNET film, then handed in the work to Miramax honcho Harvey Weinstein who told Silent Bob "This is too good. I'm not letting you back out of this. It's time you grew up and pushed yourself by trying something different than all the talky flicks. You can do this. We'll surround you with an amazing support team. You're right to be scared but it's a good fear. It's the kinda fear that's gonna make you try harder."

Smith also answered a host of questiosn fans have been asking on his message forum ever since Variety broke the story yesterday. Here's some of those answers from the man himself:

WHAT'S THIS MEAN FOR "FLETCH WON" and "RANGER DANGER"?
Everything just gets pushed back a year. If it's any consolation, Harvey's insisting we go right into FLETCH after HORNET wraps.

HAVE WE STARTED CASTING "HORNET" YET?
Yes. Some offers went out to actors this week. I'm meeting with the guy we all want for Britt Reid Monday night. If actors start accepting offers, I'll let you know.

DO YOU WANT TO HIRE MASTER WOO-PING?
Christ, yes. We're working on this now.

WHAT CAR'S GONNA BE THE NEW BLACK BEAUTY?
Working on this too. There are a few manufacturers we're talking to already (for me, though, the dream car is the Cadillac 16).

IS THIS A SELL-OUT MOVE?
Me making a comic book movie? That's about the least selling-out move I could make, as far as I'm concerned. But that's just me.

ARE ANY V.A. REGULARS GONNA BE IN IT?
I'm writing a part for Mewes, I know that. Beyond that, expect to see some other familiar faces pop up as well.

HOW TRUE ARE YOU STAYING TO THE CHARACTERS AND BACKSTORY?
Very, very true. The story spans a few decades, though.

SO WILL YOU MENTION THE LONG RANGER CONNECTION THEN?
Can't. The Lone Ranger is owned by someone else. Legally, we can't refer to him without optioning that character as well.

HAVE YOU STARTED WRITING THE SCRIPT?
Yes. I'm fifty pages in.

ARE YOU GOING TO FINISH "SPIDEY/BLACK CAT" AND "TARGET" BEFORE YOU GET DEEPLY INTO "HORNET"?
As I posted the other day, yes. I'm so insanely remiss on those fronts. My bad.

WHAT'S THE BUDGET?
Too early to tell. But early guesses put it around seventy million.

IS THERE A RELEASE DATE SET?
Not a specific date, but we're due in theaters August '05.

WILL IT BE SERIOUS OR SPOOFY?
It's serious. Granted, there will be some humor in it, but we're still playing it straight on this one.

In other View Askew news, JERSEY GIRL is getting pushed up a week from its original release date. The film will now open on March 26 in 1,600 theaters, then add another 400 screens the following week (April 2) and finally up to 2,500 the week after that (April 9.)


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