Brett Ratner's RED DRAGON becoming more and more promising!!!

Harry here... Hollywood Reporter tells us that right now Brett Ratner is assembling what promises to be an amazing cast for RED DRAGON.

Now I know that there was some initial fears that Brett Ratner was the wrong person to direct RED DRAGON, but folks... Let's look at what we have thus far.

First, he's going into this with Ted Tally's magnificent adaptation. A script that could possibly bring us the best of the series. However, a cast... It needs a cast, and it is here... at this juncture that Brett Ratner has been making his first impressions of what it is that he wants to do with Tally's work.

First, he cast Ed Norton as Will Graham. Quite frankly, I can think of very few actors that begin to approach his quality of late. Even in lesser films, Ed Norton has dazzled so well that those films have become very watchable. And when he has been cast in great films... well, heh... He kicks much ass.

Well joining him in RED DRAGON is Harvey Keitel as Jack Crawford... Harvey will be an excellent Jack Crawford. Can't you just see him talking Will Graham out of retirement? Keitel is a fantastic performer and a great choice for the role.

Meanwhile, Phillip Seymour Hoffman is in negotiation for the role of the Tabloid Reporter, who causes so much trouble for poor Will Graham. Now Phillip Seymour Hoffman is another wonderful choice.

Also Mary-Louise Parker is about to sign on as Ed Norton's wife, who must witness Norton's descent into another case, knowing what it is that does to him. Parker doesn't do near as much film work as she should. I saw Parker on stage in New York earlier this year and she is in fine form.

These actors join Anthony Hopkins and Emily Watson. So far, if the casting is any indication of the quality that Brett Ratner is hoping for, he couldn't hope for a better cast thus far. I haven't spoken with Ratner in quite some time, but I know he very much loves the filmmaking of the seventies and has a particularly soft spot for Cassavetes. Personally I welcome the chance to see what Ratner can do with a fantastic script and cast. Though I will always love the original MANHUNTER, it will be nice to complete the Lecter Trilogy with the same Lecter all the way across. Though having Keitel replace Scott Glenn in the role will be a notable change in continuity. But I think Harvey is up to the task.