Fusco to script 'Samurai'

TWC hires scribe for Kurosawa remake

By GABRIEL SNYDER

The Weinstein Co. will remake Kurosawa's 'The Seven Samurai.'

With the Weinstein Co. effort under way to remake Akira Kurosawa's 1954 classic "The Seven Samurai," scribe John Fusco has been tapped to pen the script for the redux.

"Samurai," which routinely shows up on crix lists of all-time best pics, is one of a trio of Asian classic remakes that Ziyi Zhang is in negotiations to star in for the Weinstein Co. (Daily Variety, June 6).

While the action in "Seven Samurai" takes place in 16th century Japan, Kurosawa drew on the American western for inspiration. And many of Fusco's previous credits are drawn on that genre, including "Hidalgo," "Young Guns" and "Thunderheart."

Some of his projects in development include adapting "Wolf Brother," which Scott Free is producing at Fox 2000, "The Monkey King" and "Highwaymen" for producer Casey Silver.

Overseeing for the Weinsteins, are execs Michael Cole, Ben Famiglatti and Colin Vaines.