WB to finance 'Romeo'
Bartkowiak blending hip-hop, Kung Fu
"Romeo," which begins shooting in Vancouver on May 3, is a blending of the hip-hop and Kung Fu genres in a story culled from "Romeo and Juliet."
In the pic, Jet Li will star as a chop-socky Romeo who falls for an African American Juliet, played by hip-hop artist Aaliyah. The pair's romance is inevitably frowned upon by the other members of their respective crime families.
The $20 million pic co-stars Russell Wong ("New Jack City"), Delroy Lindo ("Ransom") and Isaiah Washington ("True Crime"). Script is by Mitchell Kapner and Jerrold E. Brown and John Jarrell. Pic's tentative release date is the first quarter of 2000.
"This film will have a strong urban appeal," Silver told Daily Variety. "We're looking to combine a hip-hop soundtrack with an exciting martial arts aesthetic." Silver added that he hoped that the Li character could be the basis of a future franchise for his Silver Pictures and WB.
Aaliyah, who is based at the Time Warner-owned Atlantic Records label, will likely appear on the "Romeo" soundtrack. According to Silver, Corey Yuen, the martial arts choreographer from "Lethal 4," will work with Jet Li on his fight scenes for "Romeo."
Silver will produce with Jim Van Wyck, with whom he collaborated on "Conspiracy Theory" and "Lethal 4," among other pics. Silver Pictures' Dan Cracchiolo will exec produce.
Renowned DP Bartkowiak takes the reigns of a pic that at one time was to be helmed by Stuart Baird, who dropped out earlier this year.
Bartkowiak, Li, Lindo and Washington are all represented by International Creative Management. Wong's deal was brokered by Writers & Artists Agency.
"The Matrix," directed by the Wachowski brothers, has grossed more than $100 million for WB after three weeks.
In post-production for Silver is "The House on Haunted Hill," starring Geoffrey Rush and Famke Janssen. It's the first pic to go into production for his and Robert Zemeckis' new horror unit, Dark Castle Entertainment.
