I’m typically unperturbed by Oscar noms, save for when something gets surprisingly snubbed (no love for HATEFUL EIGHT’s screenplay?!) or rewarded (Jennifer Jason Leigh’s first nomination!!). Demian Bichir’s nomination for A BETTER LIFE is as perfect an example as any of something that completely caught me offguard in the best way. Sure, I know he did some heavy campaigning that season, but I didn’t think his performance, which I found to be a mindblower, was going to get that much attention against the showier turns by bigger names that year. It's been awesome to see him working steady ever since in stuff like WEEDS, SAVAGES, THE HEAT, a hilarious, schizo turn in MACHETE KILLS, THE BRIDGE (where he plays co-lead opposite fellow Tarantino alum Diane Kruger) and of course, most recently in a role I’ve seen described as “the comic relief” in QT’s latest masterpiece.
And now he’s going to be in an ALIEN movie.
That’s basically all we know about his participation in ALIEN: COVENANT, other than that he’s presumably one of the crewmembers of the ship that lands on the uncharted planet at the center of the story. I’m thinking he might in the Tom Skerritt/Michael Biehn/Charles Dance “boyfriend” role, or at least that’s what I’m hoping for. The man cleans up good.
One huge, crazy thing about Deadline’s story: they mention Noomi Rapace as being one of the cast members, to which I say, “Whaaaaaaat?” This is the first time I’m hearing her name mentioned anywhere, and reports seemed to go out of their way to say she wasn’t onboard when the other cast emmbers (Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, and Danny McBride) were announced. Just a typo, a big spoiler, or plain ol’ miscommunication??
Regardless of Rapace’s participation (which I really hope is a reality), they’ve pulled a pretty great cast together so far, almost already on par with the talent-stacked crew of PROMETHEUS (though one would’ve liked Elba and Pearce to have gotten more to do). Bichir has got the Academy validation that Charlize had last time, and like with McBride, it’ll be interesting to see how he injects himself into this sci-fi setting.
ALIEN: COVENANT wasn’t expecting another stage tonight on October 6th, 2017.
