“The Killer” UK Theatrical Poster
Hot off the moderate success of 2023’s Silent Night and the recent The Killer remake, acclaimed Hong Kong action filmmaker John Woo (Hard Boiled, Manhunt) is thinking of his next movie, and one of these projects will be a part-musical, which is a genre Woo has been interested in for a very long time (he’s on the record saying musicals influenced his 1997 film, Face/Off).
“My next project is actually a half-musical,” Woo confirms to Empire. “I’m going to be working with the Sparks Brothers, who wrote the script and songs — we are just starting work on some changes to the script.” While the filmmaker didn’t confirm the name of the project, all signs point to it being X Crucior, a film described by Focus Features when initially announced as a ‘musical epic’. Having long declared his dream to make a musical – back in the 1990s, he came close to adapting The Phantom of the Opera into a big-budget songfest starring John Travolta – Woo tells Empire that the Sparks collab will require a change-up from his usual production style. “It will be my first movie where I don’t need to hire a stuntman,” he laughs (via Empire).
The news of this project stemmed off a recent post on X, where the musical group Sparks – who worked with director Leos Carax on the 2021 musical film, Annette – posted a picture alongside the director that simply reads: “Legendary filmmaker John Woo + Spark = ?????” (via WOR).
We’ll keep you updated on this story as we learn more. Until then, check out the image below, which has Woo and the musical group Sparks, sharing a photo together (via X). We also included some of the group’s music videos:
I’ve been waiting years for this to happen. Way back when, there was talk about Woo’s musical starring Hugh Jackman, and it would have had a big band jazz soundtrack to go with the gunplay. Even if Jackman isn’t around, I hope this is the direction Woo still wants to go in.
I’m totally game if it’s an action-musical. I’m a bit more skeptical if it’s a straight-up musical. Still interested, but skeptical. If Sparks is involved, then all the better.
That photo is unflattering. Woo reminds me of Sloth from the Goonies. Should have shot him with a better angle.
its the face of a man who’s just been asked….do you want to remake The Crossing?
And don’t forget the sparks envolvement with Tsui Hark! So there’s definitely some love there for Hongkong cinema on their side.
Hopefully, if it gets made, it’ll be cheaper than West Side Story remake. Also, hopefully, the title doesn’t confuse people with X-Men or the site formerly known as Twitter…
Or X Japan.
Anyway, don’t forget Woo’s pretty good (but not for everybody) Princess Chang Ping. I still have the beautuful French DVD from HK VIDEO.