Kyle Gallner to 'Hit Somebody' With Kevin Smith

I was really hoping this was going to happen...  Kyle Gallner is one of the best young actors working today (although you might not know it because of the films he's landed early in his career).  And, Kevin Smith is just the ball of awesomeness that he is.  So, needless to say I can't wait to see what Smith got out of the young actor in Red State.

Now, with the Red State premiere right around the corner, Smith has shifted gears to what may (or may not) be his last directing dig with his long awaited hockey flick Hit Somebody.  After announcing Red State alum Nicholas Braun would be taking the lead in the picture, Smith also announced via his podcast that Gallner would too be moving from the red state to the blue line.

Hit the jump to see what Smith had to say about his character, and trust me this casting is PERFECT.

According to Smith on his Red State of the Union Podcast, Gallner will be playing a young Wayne Gretzky-esque character.  Ya know, the bad ass, hot shot, golden boy you want to hate (unless he's on your squad) but can't because he really does have all the skills to back it up.  

Smith also said that Gallner's character has a moment about 3/4s into the film that is "the lynchpin" for Braun's main character Buddy McKracken, as the Gretzky-esque character is everything McKracken wants to be but isn't.  In sports movie lore, that moment should be where Gallner's character gets injured and Braun's has to step up to take his place (i.e. score the winning goal with a penalty shot).  But, seeing as this is Kevin Smith, I'm hoping for a little more here.

In case you didn't know, Hit Somebody is "based on a Warren Zevon song with lyrics by acclaimed writer Mitch Albom, is a story of a hockey enforcer who strives to score just one goal in a hockey game."  It's a project Smith has been working on for years now, and after hearing him talk about it at many a Comic-Con, I can't help but be excited for it as his joy is infectious.

Red State premieres at Sundance next week, and we'll have more info on Hit Somebody as it comes out.  For now, check out the Zevon video below.  It'll tell you everything you need to know about the film's story.

Comments

[Doppelganger]

Boy...you lost me with "And, Kevin Smith is just the ball of awesomeness that he is."

[Coop]

I heard that Anne Hathaway was cast as Selina Kyl for the next Batman and that Tom Hardy will play Bane. Have you guys heard this yet?

[J]

"And, Kevin Smith is just the ball of awesomeness that he is.".

What happened? Is it 1999 again?

[Chris]

@Coop
Yes. WB and Christopher Nolan have both confirmed that Hathaway has been cast as Selina Kyle and Tom Hardy as Bane.