RZA Joins 'G.I. Joe 2: Cobra Strikes' cast

Everyone loved that G.I. Joe movie that was released two years ago.  Well, maybe a few people.  Ok, fine, no one, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t interested in hearing about the sequel.  Now just hear me out, the film is getting a completely new cast, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson signed up earlier this month to try to revive the series.  His presence did somewhat help Fast Five become a success. 

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Russell Crowe, the Baddest Man Alive

Yes, that's right. Actor Russell Crowe is taking the leap from Hollywood bad boy to The Man with the Iron Fist in Wu Tang Clan's RZA's directorial debut. Universal Studios gave the first time director the go ahead last May to the tune of 20 million dollars.

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RZA Sho'Nuff Wants Rihanna for 'Last Dragon'

I'm not sure I knew RZA was co-producing the upcoming remake of The Last Dragon. I mean, that certainly adds a little something to it, doesn't it? But the Wu Tang Clan member isn't content to just remake the film, telling MTV, "We're not gonna take it back to the '80s. We're gonna try it a few years ahead. Modern times, but a few steps ahead in the future."

Adds RZA, "We got some crazy ideas, but the main thing is still finding that glow." He's referring to the mystical element in the original Last Dragon that turned out to be (spoiler alert on a 25-year-old movie...) inner strength. One idea that's not so crazy at all is RZA's plan to put the beautiful songstress Rihanna in the film as the female lead. Why Rihanna? Well, you could look at her for a few seconds; that might clear it up. Plus, the character's a singer, so that's a natural fit. "That's the one I'm rooting for," exclaims RZA.

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RZA to Direct Martial Arts Flick, 'Man With the Iron Fist'

Spurred on by the discovery of a small blurb in a Billboard magazine article, CHUD decided to track down Eli Roth and get the real scoop: Was RZA, founding member of Wu-Tang Clan and now a bit of a go-to guy for musical scores, going to direct a martial arts movie with Roth producing and his mentor Quentin Tarantino standing by for assistance? The short answer is yes. RZA will be behind the camera for The Man with the Iron Fist, based on his own original script. I spoke with RZA when he was promoting the Jet Li film Unleashed, which featured his contributions on the musical score, and I came away with the impression that his breadth of knowledge about martial arts is pretty substantial. Apparently, it's damn near encyclopedic, and he's been picking up pointers from Tarantino for years, according to CHUD, and that's gotta help. Roth is equally impressed with RZA and the project:

"RZA's script is amazing...His impact on rap music and hip hop culture cannot be measured, and he's ready to add his own unique style and  vision to the world of film. This movie will have everything martial arts fans could want, combined with RZA's superb musical talent. This project has been his dream for years, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it. And fans should know that yes, there will be blood...This ain't no PG-13."

I only hope people don't immediately hate this idea just because Eli Roth's name is attached somewhere. Generally speaking, that's a good enough reason, but I'm more than willing to give RZA a shot. No matter what he's done, whether it's in music or in front of the camera in Coffee and Cigarettes (a bizarre scene with GZA and Bill Murray, of all combos), he's always put out interesting work. It's not always great, but it's distinctive all the same. Of course, I'm always anxious to see anything new and different in the world of martial arts film, so this one really has my attention already.