[Re-Re-Update: Trent Reznor has officially announced that he will not be involved with this project after all.]
[Re-Update: Trent Reznor himself has spoken. Does he confirm or squash this rumor? Scroll down for the official word.]
[Update: A 20th Century Fox representative has clarified the rumor. Scroll down for the full update.]
Newly minted Oscar-winner (and Severus Snape look-alike) Trent Reznor is already set to continue his career as a high-profile motion picture composer by reuniting with director David Fincher for his English-language adaptation of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.
Now the Nine Inch Nails creator is circling another project, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, with the intention of not only scoring the film, but starring in the historical horror adventure as well.
Badass Digest is the source for this news about Reznor, whose original songs have long been featured in darker fare, including Seven, Natural Born Killers, Final Destination – even an episode of Fringe on one occasion. The Goth musician tried his hand at a feature-length film soundtrack last year by collaborating with Atticus Ross on the ominous electronica score for The Social Network – ultimately netting an Academy Award in the process.
Reznor may not only be working on the Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter adaptation behind the scenes, but in front of the camera as well. He reportedly is in line to play the vampire who kills Lincoln’s mother and inspires the future 16th U.S. president to dedicate his life to the eradication of all bloody-hungry creatures of the night. It’s a small role, of course, and Reznor certainly has the pallid complexion to play a vampire onscreen, so… it’s all good by me.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter author Seth Grahame-Smith penned the film adaptation of his novel, and has spoken before about what he and Wanted director Timur Bekmambetov have in mind for the film version:
“We’re going to make it cool… we’re going to make it authentic and pretty incredibly action-packed. If you look at some of the sequences in ‘Wanted’, you know, cars flipping over sun roofs and bullets bending and people running around trains and all that stuff… and imagine that in the 1840s, you’re on the path to understanding what we’re trying to do with it.”
The combination of a shrieking, computer-based rock soundtrack by Reznor and Bekmambetov’s eye for over-the-top stylized violence certainly has the potential to make the Abraham Lincoln biopic/vampire thriller mashup an impressively stylish one. By and large a brainless one as well, but is anyone really expecting something more, based off the title?
Update:
A 20th Century Fox representative has confirmed that the studio is interested in Reznor scoring Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter as well as playing Jack Barts, the vampire who kills Lincoln’s mother. However, the quote clarifies that while the studio is pursuing Reznor, it’s unclear whether or not the musician is even interested in either offer.
Here’s the full quote – courtesy of EW:
“A spokesperson for 20th Century Fox confirms that the studio is currently negotiating to lure Reznor aboard, not only to supply the film’s music, but to play Jack Barts, the vampire who kills Lincoln’s mother and sets the hero on his path of righteous vengeance.”
Re-Update:
…And here’s the final word from Trent Reznor himself, which confirms that he will indeed be scoring Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and also that the rumor of him having a cameo role in the film wasn’t off the mark, either:
And finally, I am friends with Timur Bekmambetov. He’s an interesting and very talented director that caught my attention with his film Night Watch (check it out if you haven’t). He asked me if I was interested in scoring his new film he’s doing with Tim Burton entitled “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter”. I was familiar with the book, read the script and it felt like an interesting challenge as a composer – very different from the Fincher films. While discussing the film with Timur he started gently pressing me to play a small role in the film. The idea was a cameo-esque role that would be kept under wraps and be a surprise around opening night. I was considering this when I awoke a few days ago to the news I am now STARRING in ALVH (which is obviously not true). Fuck. We both apparently forgot the internet existed AND THERE ARE NO SURPRISES anymore.
So… do me a favor and act surprised, OK?
That quote would indicate that Reznor will indeed concede to Bekmambetov’s wishes and make an appearance as a vamp in the film – though ironically enough he could back out of the role, now that the Internet has gone and spoiled the surprise. Stupid Internet ;-).
So there you have it, after all the drama and mudslinging between movie sites, it seems will see Trent Reznor’s stamp on Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter in some form or fashion. Good news in our book.
Re-Re-Update: Trent Reznor has made his final decision and… he’s neither scoring or making a cameo in Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
Here’s the FINAL word from Reznor himself:
Don’t believe everything you read. As it turns out, I WON’T be working on (acting or scoring) ALVH after all. There’s no juicy story here, it’s just that when the news mysteriously leaked out about my involvement I hadn’t made up my mind completely, because various aspects of the project were changing. I felt the need to say something earlier this week because my inbox was filling up with speculation, and at that moment I thought I would be doing it. Confused yet? Apparently I am.
Bottom line, I wish them the best with the film and I’m sure it will still be great.
Talk about much ado about nothing…
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Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter begins principal photography this month and will arrive in theaters next year on June 22nd.
Re-Update Source: Nine Inch Nails forums
