Michael Caine has joined the cast of Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (jeez, that’s a horrible name), a sequel to the 2008 Journey to the Center of the Earth.
Back in 2008 when the original was released, digital 3D movies were still a burgeoning trend and the original was able to sell itself a lot due to the relative novelty of its added dimension. Two years later, though, we live in a world post-Avatar and it’s going to take a lot more than Brendan Fraser dodging 3D boulders to get audiences in their chairs.
For the sequel, Fraser is apparently out. Besides Caine, the new film will include a returning Josh Hutcherson and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The film will be loosely adapted from Jules Verne’s The Mysterious Island (itself a semi-sequel to Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea).
The Hollywood Reporter says Caine would play the grandfather of Hutcherson’s character whose disappearance on the titular island sparks a rescue mission. Caine will apparently engage in his share of action scenes — including one involving giant bees.
Brad Peyton is directing the movie, which begins production in October.
I can dig the fact that Caine has joined this film. Honestly, Dwayne Johnson could use a reminder of what it means to be a bad ass. For far too long, Johnson has been taking roles in bland, inoffensive Disney movies. Maybe hanging out on a set with Michael Caine will rub off on him and Johnson will finally get the itch to take on more roles that match his potential.
Caine has had a long, illustrious career and has remained a bad ass in every role he takes. Even in playing Batman’s man-servent, Caine does so with a type of swagger and coolness that convinced a whole generation of kids that it would be cool to be a butler when they grow up.
