Taxi

By: Corona's Coming Attractions
Date: Thursday, June 10, 2004

Genre:
Action/Comedy.

Studio:
20th Century Fox.

Production Company:
Unknown.

Project Phase:
Post-production.

Who's In It:
Queen Latifah (Belle); Jimmy Fallon (Washburn); Gisele Bundchen; Jennifer Esposito; Christian Kane; Henry Simmons; Ana Cristina De Oliceira.

Who's Making It:
Tim Story (Director); Jim Kouf (Screenwriter); Luc Besson, Bob Simonds (Producers).

Premise:
Belle is the best New York City cabbie in the business. Washburn is the worst New York Police Department driver on the force. Together they have to team up to stop a Brazilian beauty and her gang from robbing a bank and getting away with it.

Release Date:
Unknown.

Comments:
An American remake of the 1998 French film of the same name.

Scoop Feedback:

June 13, 2003... After reaching a high point in her Hollywood career, rapper-turned-actress Queen Latifah is getting behind the wheel for the American remake of Luc Besson's TAXI. The BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE star will play the taxi driver who partners with a cop to try and stop a string of bank robberies. Besson produced and wrote the original 1998 French film; for the American version he will produce but it's Jim Kouf (screenwriter for SNOW DOGS as well as a writer/producer on Joss Whedon's ANGEL series) who penned the script. Two sequels have already been released in France.

Filming is scheduled to begin in mid-September with Tim Story (BARBERSHOP) directing. 20th Century Fox will release the movie. [The Hollywood Reporter.]

July 18, 2003... So now we know that it will be Jimmy Fallon who will play the cop sidekick to Queen Latifah's cabbie in the American remake of TAXI, scheduled to start its filming in two months. Fallon, one of the anchors on Saturday Night Live's "Weekend Update" skit, will help Latifah's character stop a string of bank robberies.

First made as a French action/comedy produced by THE FIFTH ELEMENT helmer Luc Besson, Tim Story (BARBERSHOP) has been hired to direct this 20th Century Fox update. [THR.]

September 16, 2003... Filming on the American remake of TAXI begins today. Joining the cast are Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen as the leader of a group of bank robbers, as well as Jennifer Esposito (DON'T SAY A WORD), Christian Kane (Lindsay from ANGEL), Henry Simmons (N.Y.P.D. BLUE) and Ana Cristina De Oliceira. Tim Story (BARBERSHOP is directing, with Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon playing the two main roles. [Once again, THR.]

November 21, 2003... See what happens when you take a stroll in the East Village of New York City? You stumble across the film shoot of the movie TAXI. Lucky for us that our latest scooper had their digital camera with them and snapped these exclusive photos of star Jimmy Fallon prepping for an upcoming action scene.

TAXI is a remake of the 1998 Luc Besson film. This time Fallon plays a bumbling NYC cop who teams up with the city's best cabbie, Belle (played by Queen Latifah), to foil a team of bank robbers. Gisele Bundchen, Jennifer Esposito, Christian Kane, Henry Simmons and Ana Cristina De Oliceira round out the cast of criminals.

Our spy (who wishes to be known as "LaTrina Starr") sent these photos our way and gives us our first look at the movie. The scene was being filmed in the East Village and involved a car (nope, not a taxi) crashing through a grocery mart with Fallon's character, Washburn, involved in the incident.

[Thanks to our photojournalist friend "LaTrina Starr" for sending in the snaps. You should work for Weekend Update!]

June 10, 2004... 20th Century Fox has slotted October 8, 2004 to open TAXI. [20th Century Fox.]