Paul Weitz is adapting the script as well as directing. Now all that is fine and dandy, the stuff that throws me for a loop is the casting thus far. CIRQUE DU FREAK has picked up John C. Reilly, Josh Hutcherson, Chris Kelly, Salma Hayek (below), and Ken Watanabe. Reilly is set to play the main vampire, Hutcherson the 14-yr old lead, and Hayek as the bearded lady. Now are you asking yourself what the hell is going on like I am?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m definately all for checking out what comes from all this, but I just can’t see it yet. Are they going for something childish and comedic? Something dark and sarcastic? This can go a number of ways.
Regardless, according to the guys over at Dread Central, Universal Pictures just nabbed effects man Tom Woodruff for FREAK. Woodruff’s credits include THE TERMINATOR, MONSTER SQUAD, ALIENS, TREMORS, MORTAL KOMBAT, and both ALIEN VS PREDATOR flicks among lots others. He even scored an Academy Award for DEATH BECOMES HER.
This news sounds good to me. CIRQUE DU FREAK is set to start filming next month. We’ll keep you updated on any other FREAK-related news.