Lively and Lawrence to get high as Kite?

Director David Ellis has his eye firmly trained on Blake Lively or Jennifer Lawrence for the leading role in his next film Kite. I spoke with Ellis earlier today about his new film Shark Night 3D and the former stuntman was more than willing to spill the beans on his next project.

News broke last fortnight that the Snakes On A Plane director was signed on to bring a real-D version of edgy Japanese anime Kite to the big screen. The original 1998 film follows a young girl, Sawa, who sets out to track down the killer of her father, who was a cop. The characters occupy a post-financial collapse failed state where corrupt security traffics young women for profit.

Ellis said he was first introduced to the anime version of Kite by his son, who’s a big fan.
“I was aware of it because my son’s really into Japanese anime and I watched Kite with him,” he said.
“Then when the script started floating around and they were looking for another director my agent sent it to me.
“I read it and loved it.
“I had lunch with the producers and I talked about my vision for that world.
“It reminds me of that Mad Max: Road Warrior universe.”Ellis said they’re ready to start filming in South Africa by the end of the year and that he envisions either Blake Lively or Jennifer Lawrence in the role of heroine Sawa (above).
“I would love either Blake Lively of Jennifer Lawrence for the lead,” he said.
“Both are really good, but we’ll have to see if we can afford them and if they’re available.
“There are a lot of people we like for Kite and we’re still getting on to that side of things.
“We’re waiting for a new script which comes out next week and the casting director is getting started.”

Lively or Lawrence would definitely be interesting choices and the part of Sawa is no doubt going to be a whole coveted one. It would be an edgy choice for any Hollywood actress, given the sexual abuse sub-plot and general violence inflicted at her hands. Basically it’s like a younger version of The Bride aka Beatrix Kiddo from Tarantino’s Kill Bill. Lawrence may be a tad hesitant to sign on to Kite, however, given she’s already committed to playing one strong female heroine in a post-apocalyptic world in The Hunger Games and its potential sequels. Anant Singh (I Capture The Castle, Pulse) and Brian Cox (Pulse, Don’t Look Up) are producing. Ellis, a former professional surfer and stunt co-coordinator on films such as Scarface and Patriot Games, has helmed mainly horror films since sitting in the director’s chair. But he has impressive pedigree. Ellis has been second unit director and in charge of filming the heavy duty action in flicks such as Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone, Master and Commander: The Far Side Of The World and The Matrix Reloaded. He said he’s definitely up for the job and looking forward to some of Kite’s hardcore moments.
“I love action and Kite’s an action film,” he said.
“I’m excited to get to do that and I’m ready to step outside the genre I’ve been working in.”