Fango got an update from screenwriter Jeffrey Reddick on cast reports that have surfaced elsewhere for the DAY OF THE DEAD remake, which begins shooting July 23 for Millennium Films and Emmet/Furla Films. Ving Rhames toplines the movie, though not, as has been speculated elsewhere, in a role carrying over from his lead in 2004’s DAWN OF THE DEAD redux instead, Reddick reveals to Fango that he’ll play Captain Rhodes, the role memorably essayed by Joseph Pilato in George A. Romero’s original DAY. AMERICAN BEAUTY’s Mena Suvari portrays the heroine Sarah (Lori Cardille in the 1985 version), and the supporting cast includes Nick (DRUMLINE) Cannon, Michael Welch, Annalynne McCord and Stark Sands.
“Obviously, we’re all extremely excited about landing this cast,” Reddick tells us. “Mena Suvari has the intelligence, strength and beauty needed for the role of Sarah, and Ving…well, he’s the man, what more can I say? Nick Cannon is playing Salazar, and people are going to see him in a whole new light after this role.
“I believe we were able to attract a high-caliber cast because of the quality of the script and the passion of everyone involved,” Reddick continues. “The story is more of a reimagining than a shot-by-shot remake; think the DAWN OF THE DEAD remake, not PSYCHO. The original DAY OF THE DEAD was a great film, and it would be arrogant to think that we could do a scene-by-scene remake of a Romero film with a bigger budget and do it better. [Director] Steve Miner’s in Bulgaria right now prepping for the shoot, and Millennium and Emmet/Furla have been a dream to work for. They really trusted Steve and I with the project, and we’re striving to deliver a horror film that will thrill the fans.”
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