Director Robert Rodriguez recently sat down with MTV to discuss how well production was going for Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, a film that’s been grabbing headlines most notably for its casting choices.
Apparently, even though very few “pieces” have only been shot along with an opening sequence, Robert Rodriguez feels that everything is going smoothly.
“We’ve shot a bunch of stuff and it’s going fantastic,” Rodriguez said. “The only story we’ve shot out is one of the intro stories. That’s completely done. The other ones we’ve just sort of been shooting people and places as actors come available.”
One of those actors is the increasingly marketable Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who surprised everyone when he was cast in the Sin City role originally offered to Johnny Depp. Naturally, Robert Rodriguez had nothing but good things to say about Gordon-Levitt and the role he would be taking on.
“He plays a gambler, a very cocky gambler, ” Rodriguez said. “He comes in and tries to beat the biggest villain in Sin City at his own game. The story is called The Long Bad Night. He beats the wrong guy at a game. Bad stuff happens to him. Bad stuff.”
Robert Rodriguez wasted no hesitancy in explaining the appeal behind the likes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt — or even Johnny Depp, to an extent — taking on such an unfortunate role.
“You have to start with someone likable like that,” Rodriguez said. “And then it’ll just be like ‘Oh no!’ and ‘Not him! Not him!'”
As far as other cast choices go, Robert Rodriguez seems to be having a ball shooting more and more celebs as much as the press enjoys writing about it. With names such as Jeremy Piven, Dennis Haysbert, Mickey Rourke, Ray Liotta, Josh Brolin, Jessica Alba and Rosario Dawson involved, the director’s glee is quite understandable.
“We were up shooting all night last night,” Rodriguez claimed. “They’re some characters from the books. People might be surprised who they play and what turns they make. It’s just a blast.”
Robert Rodriguez was understandably candid when asked about the return of Hartigan, a beloved character played by Bruce Willis.
“I want to leave some surprises,” the director said. “But Bruce is back, you’ll be seeing him.”
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is not due to hit theaters until October this year. For better or worse, that leaves plenty of time for Robert Rodriguez to make even more casting choices, changes and surprises. The film is being shot in 3D, so let your mind consider all the visual magic that can be woven, especially when considering it’s already visually stunning basis.
