For a while it was looking like Antoine Fuqua (TRAINING DAY, OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN, and this weekend’s EQUALIZER adaptation) would next be helming the funkily titled NARCO-SUB, a Ridley Scott produced tale of drug smuggling in submersible craft. He stepped into that gig after Tony Scott’s death in 2012.
It’s now looking like this won’t be the case. His next project will actually reunite him with TRAINING DAY and EQUALIZER cohort Denzel Washington, for the previously announced remake of THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN.
"Yeah, that's (The Magnificent Seven) where all of my attention is going. When I get back to L.A., I'll meet the casting team and start to get into it with the producers and everybody next week. Yeah, we're trying to find the other guys now, trying to find the other... six (Laughs). My biggest influence is Seven Samurai, that's what I really love. The Magnificent Seven I love as well, there are so many great actors in that movie. It's a different way in, but it's the same concept. It's not going to be something where people won't recognize it, for sure. There's certainly going to be the Yul Brynner type of role, the Steve McQueen, all those roles are there, and the town that needs help. It's a different way in on this one, and the writers did a great job working on it. I'm really excited about it."
That’s a helluia team-up for a Western of this nature, and Fuqua seems to have a gift for casting. While I’m never terribly excited about remakes, this one could shake out in interesting ways…
Who would you like to see defending that town alongside Denzel?
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Glen Oliver
“Merrick”
