Mere days after being left at the altar by (ex-) director Mark Romanek, Universal’s The Wolf Man has found itself a new helmer.
Variety reports that the horror remake will now be directed by Joe Johnston, the man responsible for bringing films such as Honey I Shrunk the Kids, October Sky, and, um, Jurassic Park III to the big screen. From the article:
Benicio Del Toro has long been attached to play the title character, but Romanek’s exit comes after the studio firmed up Anthony Hopkins to play the title character’s father, and for Emily Blunt (“Charlie Wilson’s War“) to play the female lead.
Universal has now dodged bullets with two of its highest-profile 2009 pictures; the studio quickly replaced Brad Pitt with Russell Crowe when the former left State of Play, and with Johnston’s hiring, they ensure that the long-gestating Wolf Man (or Wolfman — these news reports can’t seem to make up their minds) will have a chance to start earning back its $85 million budget on time.
Source: Variety
