Shubhabrata Dutta
A prolific actor by all means, Russell Crowe’s screen presence cannot ever be overstated. In a career spanning more than 30 years, he has given us memorable characters, pulling off both positive and negative roles with equal prowess and palpable commitment. Debuting on the big screen in 1990 with ‘Prisoners of the Sun’, his movies ‘L.A. Confidential’ (1997), ‘The Insider’ (1999), ‘Gladiator’ (2000), ‘A Beautiful Mind’ (2001), ‘Cinderella Man’ (2005), ‘Body of Lies’ (2008) and ‘Les Misérables’ (2012), are all proof of his grandeur and aura. So, if you want to know what the actor has in store for you in the near future and the forthcoming years, here’s a list of his upcoming projects, all sorted out.
1. Kraven The Hunter (2024)
‘Kraven The Hunter’ is a live-action superhero-origin movie directed by J.C. Chandor based on the popular Marvel villain Sergei Nikolaievich Kravinoff, aka Kraven the Hunter. Set in a time before his enmity with Spider-Man, who is his primary foe, the movie showcases Sergei Kravinoff’s life and how he became the best and the most dangerous hunter in the world. In the comics, Kraven has top-of-the-line hunting skills, and his superhuman abilities are the result of potions from a herb that he ingests periodically. This provides him with superhuman abilities like enhanced strength, speed, stamina, and longevity. In the movie, however, we get to see a different rendition as Kraven gets his powers after a few drops of blood from a lion get infused with his blood as the result of an attack during a hunting trip with his father.
The movie is a part of Sony’s Spider-Man Universe that includes ‘Venom’ (2018), ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage’ (2021) and ‘Morbius’ (2022). The cast includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Sergei/Kraven, a character that is clearly Taylor-Johnson’s first, and Crowe as Sergei’s father, along with Christopher Abbott, Alessandro Nivola, Ariana DeBose, Fred Hechinger, Levi Miller, and Rachel Handshaw. The screenplay has been written by Art Marcum, Matt Holloway, and Richard Wenk based on characters by Steve Ditko and Stan Lee, both of whom co-created Spider-Man. The movie is co-produced by Columbia Pictures and Marvel Entertainment, among others, and will be released on December 13, 2024. Have a look at the trailer.
2. Ark: The Animated Series – Part 2 (2024)
Jesse Rapczak and Jeremy Stieglitz’s ‘Ark: The Animated Series’ has been confirmed to return with its second part (Episode 7 through Episode 13). The series, which follows the adventures of paleontologist Helena Walker (Madeleine Madden has voiced) on a prehistoric island full of dinosaurs and other strange creatures, will be back with more dinosaur battles and hardcore sci-fi stuff by December 2024 at the latest. Crowe has voiced Kor the Prophet and is a “dino-whisperer.” The rest of the voice cast includes Gerard Butler, David Tennant, Michelle Yeoh, Zahn McClarnon, Jeffrey Wright, and Devery Jacobs. A specific date of release is eagerly awaited.
3. Rothko (TBA)
‘Rothko’ is a biographical drama movie directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson. It is based on Kate Rothko Prizel, daughter of famous painter Mark Rothko, and showcases the Rothko case, the well-publicized 1970 legal battle that Kate fought at the age of 19 with her father’s estate executors and directors of Mark’s gallery Marlborough Fine Art who are bent on selling Mark’s art.
The movie is based on the book ‘The Legacy Of Mark Rothko’ by Lee Seldes. The adapted screenplay is written by Lara Wood. Alongside Crowe, who plays Mark Rothko, the cast includes Aisling Franciosi as Kate, along with Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Jared Harris. The movie is co-produced by CAA Media Finance and Super Crispy Entertainment along with Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Sam Taylor-Johnson. The movie is in its pre-production stage, with a release in Turkey set for October 25, 2024. A US release date is yet to be revealed.
4. Nuremberg (TBA)
Currently in post-production, this historical drama is adapted from the book ‘The Nazi and the Psychiatrist’ by Jack El-Hai. The cast, as of now, includes Crowe, Rami Malek and Michael Shannon. James Vanderbilt has directed it. Set in post-World War II Germany, it will showcase the Nuremberg trials of 1946 and follow American psychologist Douglas Kelley, played by Malek, who was given the responsibility to assess the Nazi prisoners and decide whether they are fit for trial for their war crimes. One of his patients was Hermann Göring, Adolf Hitler’s right-hand man, to be played by Crowe, with whom Kelley found himself in a battle of wits. The role of Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson, who was the chief prosecutor of the trials, will be played by Shannon.
It needs to be mentioned that though Göring was sentenced to death for his heinous crimes, he took his own life before his sentence could be carried out. The rest of the film’s cast includes Leo Woodall, Lydia Peckham, Richard E. Grant, Wrenn Schmidt, and Colin Hanks. It waits to be seen how the creators show all this on the big screen. Details about a potential release date are awaited.
5. Bear Country (TBA)
To be directed by Derrick Borte, ‘Bear Country’ follows a man named Manco Kapak, played by Crowe, who is stuck between cartel bosses and a mysterious buyer; both parties want his club that, by the way, has been robbed by a masked gunman. With his dream life with his girlfriend, which he dreamed of after selling the club, now in jeopardy, Kapak has to find a way out. Borte and Daniel Forte have written the script based on Thomas Perry’s novel ‘Strip.’ No other cast member has been revealed yet. Production will begin in October, and a release date is awaited.
6. American Son (TBA)
‘American Son’ is a prison drama movie directed by Andrew “Rapman” Onwubolu, which revolves around a man who is recruited into a gang by a ruthless mobster while serving in prison only to plot his rise up the chain of hierarchy by establishing his own multiracial regime. While Crowe plays the role of the mobster, Stephan James plays the recruit.
The movie is based on the Oscar-nominated French film ‘A Prophet’ (2009), directed by Jacques Audiard, with the screenplay adapted by Dennis Lehane. As of 2020, Original Film and Paramount Players are the producers. Paramount Pictures is in charge of the distribution. The movie is presently in its pre-production stages, and as of now, only Crowe and Stephan James are the two cast members that we know are there in the film. Further updates about the movie are awaited, including a release date.
7. The Beast in Me (TBA)
Directed by Tyler Atkins, ‘The Beast In Me’ is a sports drama movie that tells the story of a former fighter who presently works at a steel mill. After suffering a personal tragedy, he decides to train again with the help of a veteran fighter and avenge the tragedy by taking part in an MMA match against a savage opponent.
The cast includes Daniel MacPherson as the fighter, Russell Crowe as the veteran, and George Burgess as the opponent fighter (potential). The story has been written by David Frigerio. The movie has Broken Open Pictures, Storm Alley Entertainment, Armagh Films, and Eclectik Vision as its producers. Other than Crowe, the cast includes Ricky Whittle, Daniel MacPherson, Mojean Aria, and George Burgess. The movie is currently in its pre-production stages, and further updates are awaited.
8. Last Breath (TBA)
‘Last Breath’ is a musical documentary directed by Russell Crowe. It follows Crowe and his band, Indoor Garden Party, on their recent Europe tour as well as previous tours and shows in the US, UK, and Australia. The documentary aims to showcase Crowe’s love for music and he has been shooting material for it since 2011. The project is currently in its filming stage, and further updates about its production and release are awaited.
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