Wesley Snipes hasn't done a feature film worth talking about since 2009's urban crime flick, Brooklyn's Finest, which was then pegged as his comeback. But legal issues continued to hound him, and while they may be on the verge of clearing up for good, Snipes is going to have a hard time convincing producers he's a credible star again. His latest film, the supernatural Western Gallowwalkers, may not be the best example of Snipes' skills, but it could go a long way in securing his rumored spot in The Expendables 3.
Picked up by VMI at the European Film Market, they've released the first trailer, which shows Snipes as a dreadlocked cowboy named Aman. The son of a nun who broke her covenant with God, he's now cursed to be hunted by all who died at his hand. After getting revenge on his wife's killers, the gang rises up from the dead as undead warriors and pursue him relentlessly.
In development for eight years, with Chow Yun Fat once in the lead role, the film does arrive at a time when zombies are red hot, so it's got that in its favor. The budget constraints are obvious, but what's most glaring is how tired the whole thing looks. Where's Snipes' athleticism and energy? It's certainly not in this footage. Maybe it's just a poorly cut trailer, but I doubt it.
Written and directed by Andrew Goth, Gallowwalkers will arrive later this year. Fingers crossed it does well enough that Snipes earns some better material.
