Hip hop has always been just one creative outlet for RZA, as we've seen him crossover into the world of comic books, television, acting, and most recently directing. His directorial debut The Man with the Iron Fists didn't do squat at the box office, and was disappointing overall, but it was enough to land him four follow-up projects in quick succession. On top of that, he's remaining busy in front of the camera, signing on for the Fox TV drama Gang Related, and appearing as the Blind Master in GI Joe: Retaliation. Now he's set to join the cast of Brick Mansions, the American remake of parkour action flick, District B13.
Fast & Furious star Paul Walker headlines the film as a cop who must infiltrate a crime-ridden housing development known as Brick Mansions to stop a drug lord in possession of a WMD. He's joined by a small-time dealer played by parkour legend (if there are such things) David Belle, who also starred in the original. RZA will play the villain, and the last major piece of the puzzle has also been filled by Colombian actress Catalina Denis (Taxi 4) as Belle's kidnapped girlfriend.
The original film was written by Luc Besson and directed by Pierre Morel, and it seems to differ quite a bit from this version. It's unclear if this one will feature the same level of wall-jumping action as before since it's not exactly Walker's strong suit. Then again, he got an awful lot of practice at it in Fast Five, didn't he?
Brick Mansions is in production now in Montreal, directed by Camille Delamarre. [THR]
