Denzel Washington Set For 'THE EQUALIZER'

Deadline reports that Sony has signed Denzel Washington in the lead role for the potential franchise The Equalizer. There is also a search for a director which has the studio setting their eyes on Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive), Gavin O'Connor (Warrior), Gareth Evans (The Raid) and Pierre Morel (Taken).

Gavin O'Connor To Direct Japanese Gangster Flick 'YAKUZA'

Deadline reports that Gavin O'Connor (Warrior) has been hired by Universal to direct Yakuza which is set in a modern/post-tsunami Japan. An American intelligence expert who becomes embroiled in the affairs of a notorious yakuza godfather and finds himself plunged into the violent criminal underworld and toxic landscape of post-tsunami Japan. I love the yakuza genre Ridley Scott's Black Rain being my favorite western take so I'll be keeping an eye on this one.

8 Directors In The Running For The Wolverine

ShowBlitz is reporting that 20th Century Fox is circling eight directors for The Wolverine. It originally had Darren Aronofsky set to direct with a script by Christopher McQuarrie. The directors include Jose Padilha (Elite Squad 1-2, Robocop), Doug Liman (Bourne Identity, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, All You Need Is Kill), Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Brooklyn's Finest), Mark Romanek (One Hour Photo, Never Let Me Go), Justin Lin (Fast Five, Highlander, Terminator 5), Gavin O’Connor (Warrior), James Mangold (Cop Land, Knight & Day, 3:10 To Yuma, Walk The Line) and Gary Shore.

My favorites of this group includes Mark Romanek, Jose Padilha, Gavin O'Connor, James Mangold and Antoine Fuqua. The likes of Lin and Liman sort of worries me as these two aren't strong visually and aren't as well liked as some of the other candidates. Even more so when compared to the likes of Aronofsky and the rumored Duncan Jones (Moon, Source Code). I'd love to see Romanek take on a big genre film as he was originally set to make The Wolf Man before walking and forcing Universal to rush the project.