In a world of countless superhero movies, Universal Pictures and Amasia Entertainment are going way, way back to re-invent a classic hero.
The two have partnered to create The Green Hornet and Kato, a film based on the iconic Green Hornet hero from the early days of radio and TV. You remember The Green Hornet and his partner Kato. They were the two masked fellas riding around in a souped-up super car and fighting crime. The Green Hornetwas a mega-hit radio show back in the 1940s and then transitioned into film serials and a 60s TV show co-starring Bruce Lee as Kato. The franchise lay dormant for many years as Batman, Superman, Spider-Man and others surpassed it. Back in 2011, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg created a Green Hornet film that pleased audiences for a minute but didn’t spawn any sequels. And now Universal and Amasia are trying their hand on the characters after Amasia were granted control of the film rights back in January.
While I am all about a revival of The Green Hornet — I have always been a fan of his wardrobe — a reboot may be a tough sell in the modern cinematic landscape. Because while superheroes are in fact very successful, people are rather particular about which characters they get enthused about. Movie-goers are much more interested in remakes and sequels featuring the same heroes they already know and love rather than movies with someone they haven’t seen in a long time, if at all. So now is a opportune but also dangerous time to launch a new Green Hornet.
Now the world begins dream-casting their ideal duo. Obviously Kato has to be played by someone who is athletic and capable of kicking ass. And of course he has to be played by an Asian actor too. As for the role of Britt Reid, a.k.a The Green Hornet, which A-lister do you picturing donning the eye mask and hoping behind the wheel of The Black Beauty?