Imaginably, I would have thought director Tim Story’s follow-up from John Singleton’s 2000 continuation of the Shaft franchise would be a bit darker than what’s presented in the first official trailer. Usual comedy aside, what we get here seems a bit extra and feels more like a fish-out-of-water crime romp written by someone trying to grow from their previous workdesk at Disney.
New Line Cinema is still moving forward with Tim Story’s installment of the iconic 1970’s action franchise vehicle, Shaft, and the word now is that its found its star in Independence Day: Resurgence actor Jesse T. Usher. Also of note is the return of star of John Singleton’s 2000 Shaft reboot, actor Samuel L. Jackson, along with that of actor Richard Roundtree who cameoed in the movie.
Titled Son Of Shaft, Davis Entertainment’s own John Davis is producing the film along with Black-ish creator Kenya Barris whose script will see Usher as the once estranged son of Jackson’s character, an FBI agent and a cyber expert forced to reluctantly pair up with his father, ensuing a clash between the old school and new school ways of crimefighting. The original film, directed by Gordon Parks and heralded by its popular title track from award-winning recording artist Isaac Hayes, was a phenomenon with Roundtree starring in the title role – a badass New York detective who infiltrates the criminal underworld to rescue a mob boss’s daughter.
Filming is expected to commence later this Fall. (Deadline)
It’s been more than forty years since actor Richard Roundtree made blaxploitation history in the 1971 film, Shaft, centered on a badass New York detective who infiltrates the city’s criminal underworld to help free a mob boss’s daughter. Directed by Gordon Parks, the film’s success spawned two more films while briefly extending its reign to television, accompanied by the award-winning sounds of Isaac Hayes’s chart-topping signature theme song for the franchise at the time. The film also succeed into a non-linear pseudo-remake in 2000 with actor Samuel L. Jackson starring, in which Roundtree himself made a cameo.
So now what? Well, the word from The Wrap is that a reboot is now underway with Davis Entertainment’s John Davis (Predator, Predators, The Man From U.N.C.L.E.) producing for New Line. There’s no word yet on how the studio will plan to reboot the new movie whether through its 70’s or a more contemporary take like John Singleton fifteen years ago. In my opinion, a seventies setting would look real awesome and fitting for a proper reboot of such a classic with the right director and crew on board. As for who could star in the title role, there are quite a few who come to mind. I’d name names but, you guys have the floor.
QUESTION: Which names would you like considered to take the role as Shaft in the new film? Comment below or on our Facebook page!
H/T: The Wrap
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