Deadline has learned that Summit Entertainment is courting Sir Anthony Hopkins for the villain role of Red 2. The sequel to 2010 hit action film, based on the DC Comics comic series, starred Bruce Willis as ex-CIA agent Frank Moses who has trouble adjusting to retirement life. When a sleeper team tries to take him out, he winds up banding together with former colleagues – no longer with the CIA – to learn that he’s been tagged as ‘R.E.D.’ (Retired Extremely Dangerous).
The sequel would see Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren and John Malkovich reprise their roles along with the additions of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung Hun-Li. Hopkins role would be that of Edward Bailey, the supposed villain.
But the question remains if Hopkins can commit to the role. He wants to do it, but the timing of the production may conflict with his work on the Thor sequel, playing Thor’s father Odin.
Red 2 will be directed by Dean Parisot, who gave us that 1999 cult comedy Galaxy Quest before working steadily behind the camera for TV programs like Justified and Monk.
