Remember a while back when news emerged that Mickey Rourke was planning on playing Genghis Khan(!) in an upcoming movie epic from writer/director John Milius? Thankfully, that didn't happen. But it does look like the project is going forward... with none other than the RZA at the helm.The Wu-Tang Clan frontman, whose feature film directorial debut, the kung fu action thriller The Man With The Iron Fists opens in theaters this week, has reportedly signed on to direct Genghis Khan: RZA to Direct Genghis Khan Biopic and Action Thriller 'No Man's Land.'
The Khan biopic has been in the works for years, with Milius (Apocalypse Now, Red Dawn), who wrote the script and is exec producing, originally on board to direct. One incarnation even had Mickey Rourke starring.Is this crazy? I have seen The Man with the Iron Fists, and while I have some huge problems with it (more on that for a separate post) RZA does prove he knows how to shoot some epic action. We'll have to see.
Khan, one of the great military figures in world history, is the ruler who united the Mongol tribes and conquered great parts of Asia and Eastern Europe in the early 13th century. The story will be told from the point of view of Khan’s son and grandson.
Andre Morgan and Peter Lam are producing the project, which is prepping for a shoot in China next year and will take RZA back to the country where he shot Iron Fists.
At this point, I just don't want to hear that Genghis Khan is going to be played by Mickey Rourke or Channing Tatum or someone equally ludicrous.
