Reports are flying in from every direction that Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the up-and-comer who cut his teeth on tent poles like G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, Inception, and The Dark Knight Rises, is on the hunt for a property of his own. And not just any franchise starter — a comic book movie, the type that is all the rage in Hollywood after the success of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy and Marvel’s epic Avengers sweep. Not only is Gordon-Levitt looking for a blockbuster leading role, every producer wants the actor in their movie. Meaning: he has no deficit of choices.
News has arrived that Gordon-Levitt’s search for a comic book movie role is over — for now. The actor is signed on to Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller’s stylized noir sequel Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. Dimension Films confirms that the actor is taking the role of Johnny, a part originally conceived for Johnny Depp. The character has been previously described as being “a cocky gambler who disguises a darker mission to destroy his most foul enemy at his best game.” The new addition will be joined by other “tough guy” characters currently being cast by Rodriguez and Miller.
In a press release from Dimension, Gordon-Levitt says of Sin City, “I love how the first movie uses VFX, not to make fake things look real, but to create a heightened world unburdened by the look and feel of reality. Plus, nobody makes a badass like Mr. Rodriguez.” Rodriguez and Miller add, “Johnny is a new character in the Sin City world and we are excited for what Joseph will bring to the role.”
Gordon-Levitt signing on to the long-gestating Sin City follows on the heels of rumors that he would inherit the Batman mantle for the upcoming Justice League movie (set up with a cameo in next summer’s Man of Steel), and that Marvel was eyeing him up for the lead in their intergalactic space cop movie Guardians of the Galaxy. Sin City should spare him the mask and cape that comes along with the typical superhero flick.
The casting could very well end Gordon-Levitt’s consideration for Guardians. The production of the first Sin City points to why the franchise is a dream job for any actor: with Rodriguez shooting the movie entirely on green screen, actors come and go based on their schedules, making it easy to fit a ton of talent into a low budget movie. Gordon-Levitt is a busy man, presently knee-deep in his directorial debut Don Jon‘s Addiction, which premieres at this month’s 2013 Sundance Film Festival. Sin City is a flashy comic book movie with little time commitment.
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is currently in production, rolling along to make its Oct. 4, 2013 release date.
[Photo Credit: Bridow/WENN]
Follow Matt Patches on Twitter @misterpatches
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