It seems that yet another obstacle has popped up to thwart the return of
The Green Hornet. Dating back to 1936,
The Green Hornet was a popular radio program for decades, spawning novelizations, feature films and a popular TV spin-off that co-starred
Bruce Lee as the Green Hornet’s sidekick
Kato. However, recent attempts to revive the franchise have met with failure again and again. In the 90’s, it was rumored that George Clooney would be donning the green fedora with Jason Scott Lee at his side. In 2004, Kevin Smith was attached as a possible screenwriter for a Jake Gyllenhaal/Jet Li feature film.
On June 4, 2008 Sony Pictures announced that it would be releasing a feature film based on a Seth Rogan/Evan Goldberg script, with Rogen taking the starring role, in 2010. A few months later,
Stephen Chow, famous for his mega-successful action/comedies Shaolin Soccer (2001) and Kung Fu Hustle (2004), was attached as Kato and the director of the film.
Last week it was reported that Chow would no longer be directing the film, but that he was still on board to play Kato. Now, however, Chow is quoted by the Associated Press as saying:
”If I direct ‘The Green Hornet,’ the [Jack Black] superhero comedy will have to be delayed for two years. The timing might not be right for a superhero comedy in two years. And I want to make a movie based on an original idea.”
Obviously, rehashing an idea that’s been around for 70-plus years is far from “original,” but does that mean he’s out altogether? There’s no word from Sony on his involvement, but sources say the film is moving forward.
Sony Pictures has set the release date of The Green Hornet for June 25, 2010.
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