We can’t get too bent out of shape about a Magnificent Seven remake, as that film was itself a reinterpretation of Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai (itself a reimagining of… no, that was actually original).
The Magnicent Seven had a few things going for it, mainly a star-studded cast: Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Robert Vaughn, Brad Dexter, Horst Buchholz, all acting alongside a Pre-Death Wish Charles Fucking™ Bronson. Now, with Tom Cruise already attached to MGM’s remake, the project picks up even more steam with new casting rumors in the form of Kevin Costner, Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman.
If these rumors do come to fruition, the obvious comparison is Soderbergh’s Ocean’s 11 remake – casting supporters who are every bit as A-List as the lead. Cruise has gone a long way in redeeming the twilight of his career, with Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol making the uber-monies.
Damon and Freeman will be fine here, but the rumor that really tickles me is Costner. Open Range (which he also directed) is an underrated, modern western that’s been lost in the conversation. Costner’s one of those 90s-era performers, similar to Cruise in a way, that petered out for a time only to be picking up steam again (he’s also appearing in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel).
Hopefully they’ll include some young talent here as casting forges on. These marquee names could go a long way in giving up-and-coming talent a boost (cough, Aaron Paul, cough).