In the works seemingly forever, James Cameron's Alita: Battle Angel is nearing closer to a green light over at 20th Century Fox. Last fall we learned that Robert Rodriguez (Sin City) had come aboard to direct with Cameron producing, and now a short list of finalists to play the titular cyborg has been revealed.
Maika Monroe (It Follows), Bella Thorne (The DUFF), Rosa Salazar (Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials), and Zendaya Coleman (Spider-Man: Homecoming) are in the running. The futuristic story centers on a female cyborg discovered in a scrap heap by a doctor and, using her learned martial arts training, becomes a deadly hunter of criminals. It's the kind of sexy, kick-ass role perfectly suited for a director like Rodriguez, and honestly any of these actresses would be a good fit for it. That said, Zenday's schedule on Marvel's Spider-Man movie could knock her out of contention.
A decade has passed since Cameron first started developing an adaptation of Battle Angel Alita, and for a while he had planned to direct it. But he's neck deep in four Avatar sequels and will be for the foreseeable future. Last we heard he had wanted to get this film rolling by 2017 and that seems to still be within reach, although he and Fox will have to figure out a way to slash the reported $175M+ budget first. [THR]
