Remember that Need for Speed movie that DreamWorks has in development? Well, apparently the studio is not about to let the franchise fall from their grips as they already started casting up the Scott Waugh (Act of Valor) directed movie. Today’s news is fairly controversial in that regard too because right now the only candidate for the film’s lead looks to be John Carter star Taylor Kitsch.
Kitsch was once considered to have a shot at becoming Hollywood’s next blockbuster leading man, but after multiple money losing efforts in the past year, it looks like the town is about to give up on the Friday Night Lights alumni. The more confusing part of that story though is that the public reaction to the actor seems to not mirror the one seen in accounting ledgers. Audiences are actually saying that when given the material, Kitsch can be one of the most fun leads to watch and that is perhaps why someone else is willing to give this man a shot.
I have been saying for a while now that this could end up turning into a Channing Tatum-like scenario where initially the actor went unheralded until the projects he picked up got better in quality. Kitsch’s shot at doing that will presumably come with Peter Berg’s Navy SEAL film Lone Survivor which also stars Mark Wahlberg; however, getting a chance to lead a fresh franchise with Fast and the Furious-size ambitions could be what the actor needs to turn around his abysmal acting career.
There is currently no date on Lone Survivor, but check this out: Between Taylor Kitsch’s last three theatrical roles, he has grossed over $600 million at the global box office. Sure, it could have done more, but remember that outside of the low-grossing Savages, Kitsch was really the central character. For comparative purposes, Channing Tatum had a diverse ensemble for his blockbuster debut in G.I. Joe three summers ago and that only grossed as much as Battleship.
Need for Speed is currently slated for a February 7, 2014 release.
[via Zap2It]