Russell Crowe has only starred in 10 films over the past decade. While no small amount, he’s not nearly as project-happy as some of his colleagues. All that is about to change. Over the next two years, Crowe will be appearing in AT LEAST six films (likely more), most of which are currently blocked in for 2013. Everyone’s favorite phone-launching New Zealander will be popping up this year in RZA’s period piece chop-socky effort, The Man With The Iron Fists, and battling voice-to-voice with Hugh Jackman in Les Miserables.
For 2013, Crowe is currently filming Allen Hughes’ Broken City and has already “been like Marlon Brando”* in The Man of Steel. There were rumors back in the fall that he might be filming a cameo as Richard Burton in Ron Howard’s race car drama Rush, but nothing has been mentioned since. Still, considering Howard is a buddy of Russell’s, I wouldn’t count that out unless a conflict arises.
Tugger’s pal doesn’t seem to be stopping there though. Crowe recently attached himself to a role (possibly alongside Will Smith) in Akiva Goldsman’s directorial debut: Winter’s Tale. Adapted from a novel by Mark Helprin, the titular tale revolves around a mechanic who attempts to rob a mansion and crosses the path of a dying girl whom he becomes determined to save. It also contains fantastical elements (i.e. a flying white horse) and is set both in the 19th century and present day New York. Crowe has lined up to play a mob boss and Smith, if he signs, will be a judge. Shooting is scheduled for later in the year.
The big to-do, however, is the fact that Crowe is apparently circling the title role in Darren Aronofsky’s Noah. Just as interesting is the tasty tidbit that Liam Neeson is supposedly in talks to co-star as the villain(!) of the piece! I’m not sure how the rest of the cast for Aronofsky’s biblical epic will fill out, but that’s a hell of a start right there!
Naturally either of these could end up as 2014 releases, but that doesn’t change the fact that Crowe is working like crazy again and shows no signs of slowing down. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I certainly don’t have a problem with that.
* – In the 80s, Crowe recorded a single titled “I Want To Be Like Marlon Brando” under the stage name Russ le Roq. Looks like he finally got his wish!