Ok Dudes I just got back from the Red Sonja panel and it looks very promising! Here are some highlights.
Robert Rodriguez has been a fan of Robert E Howard, and his characters since he picked up his first issue of Savage Sword Of Conan # 60 from the grocery store as a youngster. He grew up in the area that REH allegedly used as inspiration for Cimmeria and plans to take the film in the direction of the original REH works rather than the previous Red Sonya film. The man seems to be born for the job, and is up to the task
He wrote his own Conan script a few years back was unable to have it go anywhere. Then he mentioned that he is in talks with Millenium to produce a future Conan film and make it part of the same stylistic universe as Red Sonya. When an audience member asked who he would cast as Conan he said Danny Trejo! He was ribbing on his buddy a bit so I cannot be sure if he was serious, but I would be down with Trejo.
He repeatedly mentioned the importance of keeping the character true to form and much talk was given about the violence. When asked if the film would be PG-13 he responded by saying “It will be double R”.
Rose McGowan beamed about playing the character. McGowan said she loved to play both strong female characters, and stories about the underdog. Red Sonya will be an origin story that she described as HARD, COLD, DIRTY AND BLOODY!
Rodriguez will be producing this picture and have long time friend (and associate director since Four Rooms) Douglas Aarniokoski take the director’s chair. Rodriguez and Aarniokoski both commented that Robert will do double duty directing as well. The two of them have been bantering about doing a Red Sonya film for years and when Rose was passed a script everything snapped together like it was meant to be.
Everyone on the panel was excited bout this film. This project seemed to come together like it was fulfilling a prophecy and my anticipation for the film has shot up 100 fold. One of the promotional posters has Red licking blood off of a sword; I think this sums up best what the direction of this film will be (pictures to follow)
As a parting thought, the concept art for Red Sonja was fantastic. The outfit consists of a chain-mail bikini, metal bracers and arm bands. The outfit was sexy and bad ass.
I am getting kicked out of the press room now, but will have more news shortly!
