Thursday, May 08, 2014

Matias Varela Pegged For Supporting Role In "Point Break" Redux

Swedish actor Matias Varela ("Snabba Cash") joins Alcon Entertainment's remake of the 1991 action thriller "Point Break" says Deadline.


Oscar winner Kathryn Bigelow's original flick remains one of the best guilty pleasure action flicks. Keanu Reeves played FBI agent Johnny Utah who goes undercover investigating a group of bank robbers called the Ex-Presidents who happen to be surfers -wanting to ride the ultimate wave. Patrick Swayze co-starred as Bohdi.

This new version though trades surfing and skydiving for "the world of international extreme sports" but we don't yet know which of those sports are going to be used as the pic's hook.

 "300" and "Olympus Has Fallen" star Gerard Butler left the film recently due to both creative differences and a scheduling conflict. Butler is committed to filming the "Olympus" sequel "London Has Fallen" this Fall. The studio is intent on keeping its start date though, and so will recast the part in the next few weeks.

Australian actor Luke Bracey will play the Utah role that really put Reeves on the map. Both Garrett Hedlund and Nicholas Hoult were considered for the part--the studio also tested Luke Grimes, and Christian Cooke for the coveted role, while Sam Claflin was also in the mix. Bracey, who most recently appeared in G.I. Joe: Retaliation, came out on top.

Ray Winstone has joined the cast as Pappas, the role played by Gary Busey in the original flick.

The new version has been penned by Salt's Kurt Wimmer who promises the new script "infuses the story and characters with new twists and settings".

Cinematographer turned filmmaker Ericson Core ("Invincible") is set to helm

 Michael De Luca, John Baldecchi, Chris Taylor Broderick Johnson Andrew Kosove and Wimmer will produce.

Production is taking place in ten countries across the globe, although principal photography doesn't begin until June.

Varela plays Grommet, a member of Bodhi's gang of outlaws.

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