Warner Bros. has apparently decided enough time has past since the last Edgar Rice Burroughs adaptation, the box office dud John Carter, and now it's time to get swinging on Tarzan again. The studio shut down production on Tarzan earlier this year, even though director David Yates (Harry Potter) had already lined up Alexander Skarsgard to wear the loincloth of the classic jungle hero. But now it's back on and they've already found someone to play his nemesis, perennial bad guy Christoph Waltz.
After playing heels in Inglourious Basterds, The Green Hornet, and The Three Musketeers, Waltz will again wear the black hat, playing a military figure who crosses Tarzan's path. Bleeding Cool expands on that a little, describing the character as "Captain Rom, a very formidable Belgian soldier who plans to trade Tarzan to Chief Mbonga, the owner of a diamond mine." They also add that the story will begin after Tarzan has reacquainted himself with civilization, and the story eventually takes him back into the jungle.
Missing is any mention of Samuel L. Jackson, who was being targeted for the role of Civil War veteran George Washington Williams, an ally of Tarzan's. He may have moved on while the film was in limbo. The plan now is to fill the role of Tarzan's love, Jane, with Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street) and Emma Stone mentioned as possibilities even though no formal talks have begun.
A greenlight is expected to come in the next few weeks and assuming the cast falls into place, production on Tarzan should begin next year. Does that mean it will be part of the crowded 2015 line-up? I certainly hope not, if only so Tarzan has a better chance to succeed. [Variety]
