Just a little bit of a history lesson before we begin: Danish auteur Nicolas Winding Refn had originally planned to shoot “Only God Forgives” before a little project called “Drive” with Ryan Gosling fell into his lap. And while he went off to shoot the upcoming Cannes-competing flick, “Only God Forgives” stayed on his radar, and last summer he said that not only did he still plan to make it, he would starting lensing once he was finished up with “Drive.” More recently, composer Cliff Martinez — who has scored “Drive” — told us in an extensive interview that while he’s tentatively talked to Refn about “Logan’s Run,” the director was planning another film in between. And it looks like Refn is sticking to that schedule and is beginning to round up a cast.
Cineuropa reveals that Luke Evans and Kristin Scott Thomas have boarded the film which will be looking for international sales at Cannes from co-financiers Gaumont and Wild Bunch. As for the story, it’s typically (for Refn) and awesomely out there, centering on a Thai police lieutenant whose rivalry with a gangster sees the two settling their differences in a Thai boxing match. There’s no word yet on just who they’ll play in the film, though we’d guess Evans will be up for the gangster role.
Production timelines haven’t been revealed but we’d guess “Only God Forgives” will roll sometime this summer with Refn following up with “Logan’s Run” in late 2011 or early 2012 (previous reports had that film going in the fall, however, Warner Bros. also wants Gosling for “Gangster Squad” which is aiming to shoot this summer as well). Either way, it looks like a bounty on the horizon for Refn fans. “Drive” premieres at Cannes next month and hits theaters on September 16th, and we’d wager we’ll see “Only God Forgives” sometime in 2012 — perhaps with the director back on the Croisette?
