Randy Couture Joins Bruce Willis, 50 Cent & Ryan Phillippe In ‘Setup’

In November we mentioned that Bruce Willis and Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson might star in Mike Gunther’s first theatrical feature, Setup. We now know those two are confirmed in the film, in addition to Ryan Phillippe.

Now, news comes of Randy Couture’s involvement in the action heist movie that the director calls a “guys-guys kind of movie.” Couture has been one of the most successful MMA stars in Hollywood, having recently starred in The Expendables and is expected to return in The Expendables 2.

Setup follows a group of criminals on the hunt for revenge after a diamond heist goes wrong. According to Hollywood Reporter, Couture will play “an enforcer who works for a local crime lord (Willis) tasked to oversee Jackson on an assignment.” If you have a problem with his acting ability, you may want to enter with caution because he’ll likely have plenty of lines. In addition, director Mike Gunther’s background as a stunt coordinator may lend to some favorable opinions of athletic stars.

I’ve shared my doubts on Fighters Turned Actors before, but there is no question they are a mainstay in entertainment. Fans of MMA will most likely check out one of the sport’s stars on the big screen and every demographic matters, especially in the action genre. There is no doubt these fighters can handle the physical demands of an action movie and that, along with their fanbase, gives them a leg up on many actors.

Randy Couture in The Expendables

Fellow movie blog Before The Trailer snagged an exclusive interview with Gunther, who discussed the film in detail. The writer/director shared an extensive synopsis of the movie.

“There’s three young men that grow up together on the wrong side of the tracks and basically they’re into petty crime and one has this religious background. He was being raised to be an altar boy and he broke away from that. The two other boys he runs around with… They’re just kids being kids and they decide to pull off a bigger heist than what they’re accustomed to. [Let’s just say… things don’t go exactly as planned.] It’s a really gritty, kinda of a guys-guys kind of movie. You know, guys being guys and having to deal with what’s right and wrong? I know what right and wrong is, but I’m still going to get what’s mine – you know, kinda thing? I think that’s really more the dilemma.”

Based on the cast and the director’s background, we can definitely expect an action epic. The only question that remains is whether the story and performances will suffice. Bruce Willis brings extensive experience as an action star and Ryan Phillippe has dabbled in the genre with MacGruber, Breach and Bang Bang Club, but nothing as hardcore as this movie sounds. Couture adds a bit of legitimacy to the characters in this film as far as the action element.

Does Setup sound like your kind of movie or will you wait for more news to gauge your interest? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Source: Hollywood Reporter, Before The Trailer

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Bruce Willis & Rebecca Hall Circle ‘Lay The Favorite’

Bruce Willis and Rebecca Hall are the current favorites to star in Stephen Frears’ latest directorial effort.

The film is an adaptation of Beth Raymer’s gambling memoir Lay The Favorite.

Deadline reports that D.V. DeVincentis has written the script for the “dramedy” which shows how Raymer became involved with geeky gamblers who worked out how to “fix” the Las Vegas sports book system.

However, it remains to be seen if Willis and Hall will actually sign on the dotted line.

Willis has been circling Wes Anderson’s Moon Rise Kingdom and a new film with 50 Cent called Set Up. The Die Hard star has regained some box office power after top-lining the box office hit Red, which also starred John Malkovich and Helen Mirren – both of which have worked with Frears in the past.

Hall, meanwhile has been getting a lot of heat lately following her turn opposite Ben Affleck in The Town. She’s currently being eyed by Baz Luhrmann for the role of Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire.

Lay The Favorite sees Frears return to the sort of world that he inhabited with con-artist drama The Grifters twenty years ago. The Grifters starred John Cusack, a close friend of DeVincentis, who in fact wrote the adaptation of Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity that starred Cusack – which was directed by Stephen Frears. Might there be a role in Lay The Favorite for Cusack?

Frears, as a director seems, to switch from one genre to another with ease. His resume is littered with a variety of films including gothic horror in Mary Reilly (not his finest hour), comedy like Tamara Drewe, costume drama with Dangerous Liaisons, and political films like The Queen.

Focus Features and Random House Films will produce the feature, and I imagine that if they don’t get Willis or Hall for these roles, then they might look for actors of similar stature, an established older star and a young, up and comer.

Whatever happens with Lay The Favorite, you can sure to find out here at Screen Rant.

Source: Deadline

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