V for Vendetta

[Brian in Mesa]

Portman in V For Vendetta
Source: Warner Bros. Pictures
January 5, 2005

The Wachowski Brothers and Joel Silver, the creators and producer of the revolutionary, $1.6 billion-grossing "Matrix" trilogy, will unleash the action thriller V For Vendetta for Silver Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures, with Natalie Portman set to star.

"Natalie Portman is one of the most gifted actresses working today, and we're thrilled that she is bringing her extraordinary talents and presence to this film," Silver said.

Set in the futuristic landscape of totalitarian Britain, V For Vendetta stars Portman as a young woman who becomes the unlikely ally of a mysterious revolutionary.

"With 'V For Vendetta,' the Wachowski Brothers have created an uncompromising vision of the future driven by a totally original superhero," said Silver.

The screenplay by Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski is based on the acclaimed graphic novel "V For Vendetta" by author Alan Moore ("The Watchmen," "Swamp Thing") and illustrator David Lloyd. Originally collected by DC Comics as a ten-part series in 1988, "V For Vendetta" has been praised for its vision, potency and eloquence. Moore is widely considered to be one of the finest comic writers of all time, and has been credited with single-handedly expanding the potential of the comic book medium with his work.

Produced by Joel Silver, Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski, V For Vendetta will be directed by James McTeigue, who served as the First Assistant Director on the "Matrix" trilogy.

V For Vendetta will be filmed on location in Berlin beginning in early March and will be released in the Fall of 2005 by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Comic geek reaction: :notworthy

 

[Stout]

Natalie Portman's one of the 'most gifted actresses of today'? Uh, puh-lease! Is she good? She's not bad. One of the best? I don't think so.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

You must be registered for see images

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Natalie Portman's one of the 'most gifted actresses of today'? Uh, puh-lease! Is she good? She's not bad. One of the best? I don't think so.

Have you seen Garden State or Closer???

She's really talented...

Mike

 

[Stout]

Have you seen Garden State or Closer???

She's really talented...

Mike

Saw Garden State, probably won't get a chance to watch Closer, though it's playing in my own theater. She had a good role in Garden State, and she did a fabulous job (although, though I respect what was done with the movie, it was an average movie for me). She IS really talented. I'm not taking that or anything else deserved away from her. She's just not one of the 'great' actresses of our time. Please. The idea's ludicrous and laughable.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

She's just not one of the 'great' actresses of our time. Please. The idea's ludicrous and laughable.

Oh I agree there...

Mike

 

[Brian in Mesa]

James Purefoy Has a V For Vendetta
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
February 18, 2005

James Purefoy ("Vanity Fair") will star opposite Natalie Portman in V For Vendetta, an adaptation of Alan Moore's graphic novels that Joel Silver and the Wachowski brothers are producing for Warner Bros. Pictures.

V For Vendetta takes place in a totalitarian England following a devastating war that changed the face of the planet. In a world without political freedom, personal freedom and precious little faith in anything comes a mysterious man in a white porcelain mask who fights political oppressors through terrorism and seemingly absurd acts.

Andy and Larry Wachowski wrote the screenplay, which is based on the 10-issue series by Moore and illustrator David Lloyd. James McTeigue, who was the first assistant director on the Wachowskis' "Matrix" trilogy, is directing. Filming is scheduled to take place in Berlin beginning in early March for a November 4 release.

 

[Stout]

James Purefoy Has a V For Vendetta
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
February 18, 2005

James Purefoy ("Vanity Fair") will star opposite Natalie Portman in V For Vendetta, an adaptation of Alan Moore's graphic novels that Joel Silver and the Wachowski brothers are producing for Warner Bros. Pictures.

V For Vendetta takes place in a totalitarian England following a devastating war that changed the face of the planet. In a world without political freedom, personal freedom and precious little faith in anything comes a mysterious man in a white porcelain mask who fights political oppressors through terrorism and seemingly absurd acts.

Andy and Larry Wachowski wrote the screenplay, which is based on the 10-issue series by Moore and illustrator David Lloyd. James McTeigue, who was the first assistant director on the Wachowskis' "Matrix" trilogy, is directing. Filming is scheduled to take place in Berlin beginning in early March for a November 4 release.

Sounds pretty neat.

 

[Pariah]

I just started reading the trade paperback. I'm about 1/3 through. It's really good. I wonder if they'll keep the London setting, or move it to America. I hope it stays in England and they use accents--it'd add to the overall tone, IMO.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Weaving Takes Over Purefoy's Vendetta
Source: Variety
May 9, 2005

Hugo Weaving has replaced James Purefoy in Warner Bros. Pictures' V For Vendetta, from the Wachowski brothers and Joel Silver. He will star opposite Natalie Portman as the the title vigilante character known as V.

Weaving replaces James Purefoy, who left the production for undisclosed reasons. The film, in production in Berlin with a November 4 release date, is based on the acclaimed graphic novel by Alan Moore and illustrator David Lloyd.

Stephen Rea and Stephen Fry also star in the James McTeigue-directed film. The Wachowskis wrote the script.

Weaving is best known as Agent Smith in the Wachowskis' "The Matrix" trilogy and as Elrond in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

First Pic of a Bald Portman for Vendetta
Source: NataliePortman.com
May 9, 2005

NataliePortman.com has posted a scan of the first picture of a bald Natalie Portman which first appeared in Time magazine. She shaved off her hair for a prison scene in the Wachowski brothers' V For Vendetta, in which she stars opposite Hugo Weaving. The magazine says:

Level-headed young Natalie Portman is anticipating a range of responses to her spare new hairdo. "Some people will think I'm a neo-Nazi," the Garden State star suspects, "or that I have cancer or I'm a lesbian." We would also like to warn her of a probable "Hey, Sinéad!" faction. You see, this isn't like Britney Spears going brunette. Portman, the exotically coiffed Padmé Amidala in Star Wars: Episode III--Revenge of the Sith, allowed her petite pate to be shaved on camera in Berlin last week, a process she describes as "really exciting." The 23-year-old's shoulder-length chestnut locks were sheared for a prison scene in this fall's futuristic drama V for Vendetta. In this next film from the makers of the Matrix trilogy, Portman plays a suspected terrorist in a totalitarian state. Days after the shoot, she says, "I can't stop rubbing my head. It's so soft, I might keep it for a while." Hmm, a hot new bald star with action-adventure experience? Somewhere Vin Diesel's agent is quietly freaking out.

Based on the acclaimed graphic novel by Alan Moore and illustrator David Lloyd, the James McTeigue-directed action-thriller will be released by Warner Bros. on November 4.

 

[Chaplin]

Ok, so I don't really care for bald women, but for some reason that is really cool.

 

[Pariah]

Hugo Weaving as V=

 

[Renz]

'Vendetta' Filmmakers May Get Spanked
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
By Roger Friedman

Brace yourselves. On its way this St. Patrick's Day is "V for Vendetta," a new movie starring Natalie Portman written by Larry and Andy Wachowski, of "The Matrix" fame.

Officially, the Wachowski's didn't direct "Vendetta." The name on the credits is James McTeigue, a longtime assistant director for George Lucas on "Star Wars" and for the Ws on all the Matrix movies.

But I'm told that execs at Warner Bros. — a studio very hot right now — are concerned that this time out, Larry Wachowski's personal life is going to get big time exposure. The reclusive Ws, who hail from Chicago, do not give interviews. One reason is that Larry, according to some reports, is rumored to have changed genders in recent years.

Even if he hasn't gone the complete "Transamerica" route — I hope he's caught Felicity Huffman's amazing performance — Larry has lots of other issues. One reason he may not be walking the red carpet at a premiere any time soon is that he traded his wife in for a famous ********** named Ilsa Stix, aka Karin Winslow. Larry apparently isn't satisfied with just the abuse Hollywood can heap on him.

To compound the problem, lots of media organizations are said to be gunning for Wachowski and Madame Ilsa. First up may be Rolling Stone, which is said to be planning a big investigation into this unusual couple. West Coast investigator Paul Barresi and a famed torture-meister named Tom Moore — he has a Web site that you can find — are said to have led Jann Wenner's rockin' journos into the belly of the beast.

As we get closer to the opening of "Vendetta," there should be a lot of questions. One of them will be: Who is this guy McTeigue and why didn't the Ws direct the movie?

One answer could be that the studio needed someone who could actually go out and do promotional stuff since the Ws refuse. Another just might be that he's talented and has been waiting for a chance to make his own film.

One thing is certain: McTeigue, to dispel rumors, is real and not just a pseudonym for the Ws. Even they wouldn't be able to whip up such a story.

 

[Stout]

I've finished the graphic novel, and WOW!!! I'm quite impressed. Weaving as V should be pretty neat. Stephen Rea is a good inclusion. While I like Portman, I don't like her selection for the role. And, if they don't keep the same setting, I'll be extremely ticked, and may not watch it.

 

[Pariah]

And, if they don't keep the same setting, I'll be extremely ticked, and may not watch it.

I'm not certain about the time, but I'm positive I read somoewhere that it's in london.

Have you gotten into comics before this? I can recommmend some other along the same lines, if you'd like.

 

[Stout]

I'm not certain about the time, but I'm positive I read somoewhere that it's in london.

Have you gotten into comics before this? I can recommmend some other along the same lines, if you'd like.

The time is late 90's in London. For the movie, I don't think time is an important factor. Keeping it in London is.

Yeah, I've been into some comics, but they're not my favorite at all. I'm more of a book person myself.

 

[Renz]

The film is set in Britain, but it was shot mostly in Berlin.

 

[SuperSpck]

Just imagine, none of these obscure comic movies would have gotten turned into films 10 years ago! I love it!

I remember seeing the 70's Spiderman show/movies on Scifi.
I rented the Direct to Video Captain America film in the 90's.
Those were awful. Bless all those good movies that have opened the door for others.

 

[vince56]

Just imagine, none of these obscure comic movies would have gotten turned into films 10 years ago! I love it!

I agree, and some have been major improvements on their comic book past, like Blade, for instance.

One thing that just bugs me about this flick is the Wachowski Brothers and Natalie Portman together. I mean, it's like an unholy marriage of everything I didn't like about the Matrix and Star Wars trilogies, all wrapped up together in one movie.

 

[D-Dogg]

Sounds great.

 

[Djaughe]

Pretty cool website (includes movie trailers).

V for Vendetta

 

[nathan]

I saw this today and really enjoyed it.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Wow, what a great film...I really enjoyed it...

Mike