There are few people that are aware of the growing movie market overseas. Thailand is emerging as a serious threat in the marital arts action genre with the help of Tony Jaa (Ong Bak); Russia is proving they can make a slick and entertaining film thanks to studios like Disney (Black Lightning); and, of course, Japan has always been the source for many Hollywood studios’ “inspired” horror remakes (The Ring, The Grudge). One foreign market that tends to be brushed off as only doing kung-fu or martial art films is China.

Today we have a trailer for a new Asian film which has the odd IMDB genre label of romance/sci-fi called Ci Ling (Treasure Hunter). Why are we at Screen Rant sharing this trailer with you? Because Treasure Hunter stars an actor most English-speaking audiences may not be familiar with yet, but will be next year: Jay Chou. Chou is also playing Kato opposite Seth Rogen in the upcoming re-imagining of The Green Hornet. We thought you might a first-look at how the actor does onscreen.

It’s been about a month since our last update on the upcoming Seth Rogen-starrer, The Green Hornet, so we’d thought we’d get you  caught up with what’s been happening with the big screen adaptation.

We’ll talk about a very familiar but almost-forgotten actor joining the cast, Seth Rogen addressing all of the issues that have plagued the film’s production and an explosive issue on set… literally.

Check it out after the jump!

Today we have a couple of first looks for you lucky Screen Rant readers: a first look at the new A-Team, and also our first look at the costume Seth Rogen will be donning to play the masked superhero, The Green Hornet.

The A-Team

We recently gave you the first look at the new A-Team van on the Vancouver set of the upcoming movie adaptation of the classic ’80s TV series. And today – thanks to ComingSoon.net – we have our very first look at Liam Neeson (as Hannibal), Bradley Cooper (as Faceman), Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (as B.A. Baracus) and District 9’s Sharlto Copley (as Murdock). It’s not the greatest of photos (I think we’re a few months away from official, high quality shots) but it nonetheless serves as our first look at the new Team.

For those who don’t know, Olmos has signed on to play reporter Mike Axford in the upcoming The Green Hornet. We got these quotes from SuperHeroHype who got them from the LA Times who talked to Olmos directly and now were passing them on to you.  But don’t tell Susie, she’ll blab to everyone:

“I’ll put it to you this way — it’s quite a fun journey… It’s my first time doing this kind of a movie. Blade Runner is the only thing that comes close to this. I’m having a lot of fun. People are really going to like what we’ve done. …”

Olmos also talked about his character, Mike Axford, who both works for newspaper publisher Britt Reid and wants to reveal the identity of The Green Hornet (he doesn’t know Britt Reid issssss Green Hornet!):

Hey gang, yesterday John Campea of TheMovieBlog.com was kind enough to invite me to be a guest on his Movie Blog Podcast. John’s podcast is the longest-running movie podcast on the net (and the third oldest ongoing podcast, period).

Also on the podcast was TMB regular guest Christina Warren of Mashable.com and FlickCast.com. Here are the topics we covered:

• Jennifer’s Body
• Edward Norton claiming no cameo in Iron Man 2
• X-Men: First Class casting
• Nic Cage leaving Green Hornet, and the mess that movie seems to be in

We were going to cover a couple more items but we had so much fun just with those above that we ran out of time.

You can download it directly here or you can head over to The Movie Blog to listen to it (but do come back and tell us what you think!).

I’ll be doing another guest appearance on a well-known movie site’s podcast soon!

A press release came out last week which confirmed that Nicolas Cage was in negotiations to play the gangster villain for the upcoming Michael Gondry and Seth Rogen adaptation of Green Hornet.

Quick thereafter, news broke that Nic Cage had turned down the role and left the project to instead work as the lead in two other films. Production was just starting so some were worried about them finding a worthy replacement quick. They sure as hell did though in bringing in to-be-Oscar-nominated Inglourious Basterds star, Christoph Waltz.

As to why Cage turned down the role, we now have the reason…

Just five days after news came that Nicolas Cage had passed on the chance to play The Green Hornet villain comes the news that Inglourious Basterds baddie, Christoph Waltz, has reportedly been cast as Green Hornet’s foe.

Nikki Finke at Deadline Hollywood scored the exclusive news that Waltz has been cast as the villain, Chudnofsky, in Michel Gondry’s upcoming comic book adaptation, The Green Hornet. No other details have been released about the role, although in the past it has been described as a “gangster” who’s “scary,” and, “not where the comedy comes from.” Cage was circling the role for a little while before he passed on the opportunity, favoring lead roles in two different revenge flicks (that wasn’t the reason we were given, but it’s what we can summise).

In a press release last week for The Green Hornet, we learned that the cast had grown by two to include David Harbour and Tom Wilkinson. We also learned that principal photography had begun and that they were still in negotiations with actor Nicolas Cage to play the role of the primary villain described as a gangster.

Now, we’ve learned that Cage, who’s just signed for the lead roles in the revenge film Drive Angry and The Hungry Rabbit Jumps, will not be a part of the Green Hornet film adapation.

At least that helps alleviate what we thought was becoming an impossible film schedule for the Ghost Rider star.

As Screen Rant reported earlier, The Green Hornet ’s release date has been delayed by five months, from next summer to a pre-Christmas date of December 17th. However, principal photography has begun right on schedule and with a cast firmly in place (after much speculation, particularly around who would replace Stephen Chow as Kato), The Green Hornet is finally and firmly on track.

For us, this means we’ll start seeing plenty of updates rolling out and today we have some of the first set photos from the production of The Green Hornet. Included in these is our very first look at Jay Chou as The Green Hornet’s sidekick, Kato. His outfit and mask aren’t a shocker by any means, but that’s a good thing – they’re keeping him the way he’s supposed to look. On top of that, we also get a look at Seth Rogen in action as the titular character, as well as Cameron Diaz (who’s playing Lenore Case – some sort of reporter) and even Chou’s stunt double in costume as Kato.

For those of you following the troubled development of Seth Rogen’s upcoming adaption of The Green Hornet, the movie was officially delayed five months from its original summer, 2010 scheduled release to December 17th. According to to the star of the movie, this was a very positive thing as it allowed for more time to finish post production and not rush the film.

Fortunately for moviegoers, the movie is now on the right track and has entered into production as of yesterday. Most of the film’s cast is now locked down with Tom Wilkinson and David Harbour representing the latest additions and we received official confirmations for  Cameron Diaz and Edward James Olmos having roles in the film.

Everything was looking on the up and up… until now. Disney’s moving in to fight for that same release date for their 3D movie, Tron Legacy. But that’s not all, there’s two other films scheduled for that holiday weekend as well…

Over the weekend, news broke that the upcoming adaptation of The Green Hornet was being pushed back to allow for more post-production time. The five-month delay, which moves the film from its original Summer release to a holiday opening a week before Christmas, sure isn’t slowing down production of the film.

In recent weeks, we’ve heard about several casting decisions for the Seth Rogen-starrer including that of Cameron Diaz, Edward James Olmos (Battlestar Galactica) and Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou taking over the role as Green Hornet’s side-kick, Kato. More recently, there’s been two more additions to the growing cast of talented and recognizable stars: Tom Wilkinson and David Harbour.

The official press release is as follows:

A rather surprising piece of news has surfaced about the upcoming Seth Rogen comic book movie, The Green Hornet – It has been pushed back a whopping 5 months, from its previous July 7th summer release date next year to December 17th. There’s been no official reason given for the move, but its star Rogen has responded himself to the news.

It has certainly been a rocky road for The Green Hornet, with one notable obstacle being Stephen Chow sadly dropping out, first as director, then as an actor in the role of the titular character’s sidekick, Kato. But with an extremely talented director coming on board in the form of Michel Gondry, and recently Nicolas Cage, Cameron Diaz and Jay Chou being cast (Edward James Olmos has also been rumored), it looked like things were firmly on the road for the release next summer.

MTV Splash Page recently caught up with actress Cameron Diaz and had a chance to probe her (figuratively speaking) about her rumored role in The Green Hornet.

So is the lovely lady in or out of Green Hornet? (Hint: read the title of this post).

Said Diaz: “I’m in…I am making Michel Gondry’s movie…I am very, very excited about it.”

Awesome!

Hollywood Snitch is reporting that Edward James Olmos has joined the cast of the upcoming comic book film, The Green Hornet. If this news is true, he joins the already-announced Seth Rogen (playing the titled character), Jay Chou (playing Kato, replacing Stephen Chow), Nicolas Cage (playing the film’s villain) and Cameron Diaz (playing some sort of reporter/love interest). The film is being directed by Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), and written by Rogen and his Superbad co-writer, Evan Goldberg.

Olmos’ Green Hornet role is currently labeled as unspecified, with only a short quote from the Battlestar Galactica star himself at Wizard World Chicago Comic-Con. Check out the quote:

Channel News Asia is reporting that Taiwanese singer Jay Chou has been snagged by Columbia Pictures to replace actor Stephen Chow as The Green Hornet’s sidekick, Kato, in the upcoming big-screen adaptation starring Nicolas Cage and Seth Rogen as the titular Green Hornet.

It’s reported that on Monday, Chou’s close friend, actor Tin Kai Man, blogged that Columbia had picked his friend Chou for the role because he was both a famous star and a fan of the late Bruce Lee. When reporters jumped all over him, Man insisted that “I have my source.”

[UPDATE: Check Out Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje talking to MTV about Black Panther!]

Today we take the rumor ride once again, this time pertaining to comic book movies and characters. It is being rumored (from two different sources) that Korean actor Kwon Sang-woo is in the running to replace Stephen Chow as The Green Hornet’s Kato, and Lost’s Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (aka Mr. Eko) is in talks to bring The Black Panther to life.

Yesterday we reported on the news that Nicolas Cage is in early talks to star in the upcoming comic-book movie, The Green Hornet. But beyond that, we didn’t get any details on just what villain might be apart from the fact that he’s some sort of gangster-type character. However, today we get word from lead actor Seth Rogen, who describes just what The Green Hornet villain is all about.

Rogen spoke to MTV about the role Cage will be playing, explaining the reasoning behind having a newly-created villain instead of bringing back one that’s already been established in The Green Hornet universe. Here’s what the actor had to say:

A surprising piece of news has just recently popped up online: Nicolas Cage is reportedly in early talks to play the villain in the upcoming adaptation of The Green Hornet. He joins the previously rumored Cameron Diaz, who’s potential role in the film has been revealed as a “reporter and love interest” for the titular masked hero.

Variety is reporting that Cage is in early talks to be what is being described as the “gangster villain,” nemesis of our hero, The Green Hornet. There’s no more details on his character other than that I’m afraid, but if the talks get closer to a closed deal, you can be sure that more details will emerge.

One of the comedy men-of-the-minute, Seth Rogen, is starring in two upcoming movies, both within the “realm of the geek.” One is the much-talked-about adaptation of The Green Hornet, the other is the lesser-known Paul, a new comedy from Simon Pegg and Nick Frost about an alien that’s escaped from Area 51. Recently Rogen has talked about both projects to bring us eager fans up-to-date with what’s going on.

[UPDATE: Stephen Chow is now officially out of The Green Hornet. Bottom of the post for details.]

With Seth Rogen on-board to star, and Michel Gondry attached to direct, the only definite role (beyond an unnamed female role that Cameron Diaz is rumored for) that’s still to be filled in The Green Hornet is of his sidekick, Kato. Played in the original TV series by legendary martial artist, Bruce Lee, it had been assumed up until now that Kung Fu Hustle star Stephen Chow was going to be that guy.

Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Cameron Diaz is in talks to star in the upcoming Seth Rogen starring/co-written, Michael Gondry directed Green Hornet movie. The deal has not been signed yet, but it’s being reported she is in negotiations to be the female lead in the 21st century take on the character.

This week:

Revenge of The Fallen meets Dawn of the Dinosaurs; it’ll take 6 years to see the last Airbender; Adams looks on as Batman fights Marky Mark; George Clooney leaves Warner Bros; The Green Hornet is delayed and Tony Scott, Denzel Washington and Chris Pine are stoppable.

It’s been a couple of months since Michel Gondry took over the directorial reigns from the previously reported Stephen Chow for the upcoming comic-book movie The Green Hornet. Yet, there’s already anticipation and speculation about what the extremely creative filmmaker has up is sleeve to bring the character (and his sidekick) to the big-screen.

Recently, it was revealed that Gondry had created a “secret fight scene” entirely on his own dime, as a sort of audition for director’s position for The Green Hornet. However, since it was labeled “secret” to begin with, we haven’t really known just what that fight scene entailed, how it was shot or whether it would be any indication of anything we’ll see in the actual Green Hornet movie itself.

There’s been some recent buzz surrounding The Green Hornet, what with Seth Rogen out doing junkets for Observe & Report and Monster Vs. Aliens. Some of the major questions have been addressed, like how much comedy will there be; what will Michel Gondry’s take on the character look like and what role does Stephen Chow still have.

Via SCI FI Wire, Rogen said the film will be both comedy and action because they’re not “mutually exclusive.” That’s good to hear, but Green Hornet was always more camp than comedy; does Rogen get that?

While promoting the new animated film Monsters Vs. Aliens in Australia this week, funny-man Seth Rogen has given us some welcome details about the upcoming movie The Green Hornet, which he is set to star in.

In talking to Australian radio show Jono & Dano he has revealed:

- The movie will begin filming in June.

- It will be an origin story but not in the traditional sense. It’ll be unlike every other superhero film out there.

- The film will concentrate a lot on the relationship between these two different “cats” – The Green Hornet (who Rogen says is just “a normal guy” whereas Kato’s the one that does all the superhero stuff) and Kato.

Until recently, The Green Hornet was starring Seth Rogen and Stephen Chow, but without a director. That all changed when Columbia Pictures’ presidents Doug Belgrad and Matt Tolmach announced that they were in negotiations with Michael Gondry to direct the film.

Seth Rogen also penned the scrip with Superbad screenwriter Evan Goldberg.  The two are also executive producing the film along with Michael Grillo.  The film will be produced by Neal H. Moritz and his Original Film production company.

Moritz told IESB.net:

Last weekend, we told you that it looked like Seth Rogen’s The Green Hornet was dead. After the news was reported by several sites and sources, Rogen has showed up to clear the air on his project.

In an e-mail exchange with HitFix, Rogen offered some details about production and current development.

“‘The Green Hornet’ has many people working for it, including production designers, costume designers and many conceptual artists, office staff, etc… [The studio heads] have every intention on making it, and assuming we’re able to hire a new director in the upcoming weeks, which seems like a distinct possibilty, it should still hit the release date.”

If true, this news does not bring a tear to my eye – it seems that the Seth Rogen version of The Green Hornet may be dead as a project.

According to HitFix, the word from the Sundance Film festival is that the project is on life support, if not completely dead. This confirms what we said a month ago when word came that Stephen Chow not only stepped down as director but might not even co-star.

On a basic level, I’d love to see a modern day movie adaptation of the 1960s TV series The Green Hornet. As it happens, this very project has been slowly creeping forward for about a year and a half. For the longest time, the only solid news regarding the film was the fact that Seth Rogen would be involved with the film. At first he was attached as a producer and possibly the lead. Then came word that Rogen wasn’t sure whether the film would lean more or less towards a comedy, and that they’d decide as they wrote the script.

Nothing like having a clear vision for your film right from the start.

In September, Screen Rant reported the somewhat baffling news that Stephen Chow (Shaolin Soccer, Kung Fu Hustle) would be playing a major part in the production of the Green Hornet film.

We already knew Seth Rogan was attached as the lead and the good news was that Chow would be playing his crime-fighting sidekick, Kato. The not-so-exciting news was that Chow would also be directing the film.

With Chow directing, this film would be a “laugh-riot comedy” as Screen Rant master Vic pointed out. Although Chow’s previous films were great comedies, that style didn’t seem to fit what the original thirties radio show or sixties TV series were all about.