[UPDATE: Josh Brolin is confirmed for Sin City: A Dame to Kill For!]
Joseph Gordon-Levitt officially joined the Sin City: A Dame to Kill For cast last night, and today we have an update that Christopher Meloni (who also appears in this summer's Superman reboot Man of Steel) has likewise been secured for Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller's graphic novel adaptation.
In the meantime, unconfirmed reports continue to incite speculation about which original cast members are returning for the belated sequel. The latest rumors point to Oscar-nominee Josh Brolin (Friday's Gangster Squad) being courted for what could possibly be a significant role (more on that later).
We know Dennis Haybert is replacing the late Michael Clarke Duncan and Jamie Chung (The Man with the Iron Fists) is taking Devon Aoki's place as silent assassin Miho; meanwhile, Mickey Rourke, Jessica Alba and Rosario Dawson are reprising their roles from the first Sin City installment. Deadline says Meloni is playing a cop; knowing the nature of Basin City's police force, you can anticipate a character who feels like a cross between his Oz character (dangerous prisoner Chris Keller) and Detective Elliot Stabler on on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Brolin is mentioned is passing in Deadline's scoop, as the report cites "whispers" of his involvement but nothing more (... yet). The No Country for Old Men and Men in Black III star is fresh-off shooting Spike Lee's Oldboy re-imagining and is tapped to appear in Sean Penn's drama Crazy for the Storm somewhere down the line, but his schedule is otherwise open right now. That leads me to wonder: is he being considered for the role of Dwight (Clive Owen in Sin City)?
Backing up: the central storyline in A Dame to Kill For is based on Miller's graphic novel of the same name (which was co-adapted by William Monahan). It takes place prior to the events of "The Hard Goodbye" and "The Big Fat Kill" - the first and second Sin City segments - and features characters such as Miho, Marv (Rourke) and Dwight prior to his facial reconfiguration surgery, which leaves him looking like a different person (something briefly referenced in the first movie).
Now, Brolin is four years younger than Owen and bears a strong enough physical resemblance to pass as the Dwight character, pre-surgery (and without Looper-style prosthetics). Moreover, as demonstrated by his channeling Tommy Lee Jones in MIB3 and George W. Bush in W, Brolin's great at imitating other's mannerisms. Hence, if he is being pursued for the Dwight role (remember, that's NOT a given) it sounds like a fantastic choice to me.
UPDATE: It looks like my hunch was correct. Brolin has indeed been cast as Dwight, as confirmed in the following press release excerpt:
Today Dimension Films announced another big name that has been added to the SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR cast roster, further ramping up the ensemble - Academy Award® nominee Josh Brolin (GANGSTER SQUAD, MILK). Brolin will star as “Dwight” in the follow up to FRANK MlLLER’S SIN CITY for co-directors Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller. The part of the “Dame” has yet to be cast.
Dwight is one of the favorite characters from Miller’s books and the 2005 film. In SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR, Dwight is hunted down by the only woman he ever loved, Ava Lord, and then watches his life go straight to hell. Chronologically, this story takes place prior to “The Big Fat Kill” (featured in the film FRANK MILLER’S SIN CITY) and explains how Dwight came to have a dramatically different face.
"Dwight is a constant character throughout the Sin City world and "A Dame To Kill For" is a defining episode in his life. We're looking forward to Josh's take on Dwight," said Rodriguez and Miller.
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For opens on October 4th, 2013 and ranks among our Most Anticipated Movies of 2013. How about you?
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Source: Deadline