Jackie Earle Haley to Play Villain in Robert Rodriguez's ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL
Jackie Earle Haley apparently isn't worried about being typecast as a villain, because THR reports that he's just signed on to play a baddie in Alita: Battle Angel.
James Cameron spent years hoping to direct a film adaptation of the popular manga, but since he'll be busy with Avatar sequels for the foreseeable future, he ended up hiring Sin City and Desperado director Robert Rodriguez to helm the movie instead. They've cast The Maze Runner and Man Seeking Woman star Rosa Salazar in the lead role of an amnesiac female cyborg who only remembers her deadly fight training and becomes a bounty hunter, and Christoph Waltz as the cybersurgeon who discovers her, puts her back together, and becomes her mentor.
As for Haley, THR says: "Sources were light on character information but it is believed Haley will play a monstrous cyborg in a villain role that will call for plenty of CG and greenscreen." Rodriguez certainly won't have any trouble with greenscreen technology, and considering the sheer amount of big budget movie work Haley has done (in movies ranging from Watchmen to RoboCop and tons more), he should be easily equipped to handle any challenge that comes his way. Production is slated to start next month in Rodriguez's TroubleMaker Studios in Austin, Texas.
I haven't read the Battle Angel manga. For those of you who have: any thoughts on which character he'll be playing in the film?