The man who channeled ‘Jim Morrison’, Val Kilmer himself, has joined the cast of the mob drama The Irishman. He will fit right in alongside of Christopher Walken and Ray Stevenson who round out this heavily talented casting trio. Filmmaker Jonathan Hensleigh, who previously directed 2004’s The Punisher, will be directing this. Hensleigh also wrote the script, which is based on the life of mobster Danny Greene (Stevenson), who ran Cleveland’s criminal underworld during the late 1970s. Shooting will take place in Detroit and should have just about started.
There a few actors that I’ll absolutely see anything with their names attached, regardless of the film’s outcome. I’ve written before that Stallone, Costner, and Keaton fit the bill for that category, but Val Kilmer (who’s been busy lately, but with less “mainstream” work) is another of those actors. I’ve always been a big fan, but sadly (like Pacino) his work has become sub-par and the roles he’s taken really don’t do anything to highlight his talents. I’ve been a little depressed with the few roles he’s had lately but I think this could be a step up for him. I think the premise sounds intriguing after reading the synopsis of Rick Porrello’s true life book “To Kill the Irishman: The War That Crippled the Mafia” so we’ll see how it plays ou ton screen. Walken will play infamous loan-sharking nightclub owner Shondor Birns, and Kilmer will play a Cleveland cop. I’m hopeful, although I just hope this doesn’t become a “We Own the Night” or “Copland”. But that’s just my apprehension.
Is this ‘news’ to anyone or does the cast at least get you excited?
