'Jackie Brown' Prequel: John Hawkes, Mos Def Team For Elmore Leonard Adaptation, 'Switch'

The list of underrated Quentin Tarantino movies starts and ends with "Jackie Brown." Released in 1997, "Brown" was Tarantino's follow-up to the industry changing work he did in "Pulp Fiction," and a decidedly different affair. Contemplative and slow instead of brusque and face-paced, "Jackie Brown" included many Tarantino hallmarks -- sharp dialogue, cool soundtrack choices, Samuel L. Jackson -- but perhaps surprised some because of its maturity. After all, the film focuses on an aging flight attendent (Pam Grier) and the aging bail bondsman (Robert Forster) who she falls in love with. There's also a gangster and his hoodrat friend (Samuel L. Jackson and Robert De Niro) involved in the story, and though both meet an untimely end in "Jackie Brown" (movie's been out for almost 15 years, get over the spoilers), it appears they'll be back in the near future.

Variety reports that Mos Def and John Hawkes will take on the roles of Ordell Robbie (Jackson) and Louis Gara (De Niro), respectively, in "Switch," a prequel of sorts to "Jackie Brown." The film, from writer-director Dan Schechter, will be based on Elmore Leonard's novel "The Switch," a prequel to his earlier novel "Rum Punch," which was the basis for Tarantino's "Jackie Brown" script. "Switch" will take place 15 years before the events in the Tarantino film.

The casting of Hawkes -- famous for his creeptastic indie roles in "Winter's Bone" and "Martha Marcy May Marlene" -- as a younger De Niro seems particular inspired, if only because the acclaimed actor often exhibits similar facial hair to the kind De Niro wears in "Jackie Brown." If only Tarantino was onboard to direct, you could get really excited about this one. As Ordell says in "Brown," accept no substitutes.

Filming is scheduled to start in May, meaning "Switch" could be in theaters as soon as 2013. While you wait with baited breath for that, watch the original trailer for "Jackie Brown" below, which is just about the best trailer ever. (Either that, or cue up "Across 110th Street" for the umpteenth time.)

[via Variety]

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Comments

[Bootzey Jones]

11:38 AM on 02/03/2012

I wouldn't say that Jackie Brown fell in love with the bail bondsman. At that age, it's not love, more than it is useful companionship. Love is for young people with low life experience...

[Akhet]

10:52 AM on 02/03/2012

In the name of all black geekdom. When can we get a black sci-fi, horror, urban fantasy or super hero movie?
I mean really. The Avengers are coming out soon, all the other early avengers got their own movie. What about black panther? He wasnt one of the founders but neither was captain america. When static shock, Luke Cage, or afro samurai getting a movie?
Just ranting. Because black entertainment has such a narrow focus. We get dramas, and comedies (usually pretty good,), romances (not so much), and the occasional action flick (all most always low budget, so even if the stories good the actions not.) Hollywood dosnt believe in the diversity of the black community. No surprise thats ok. It just blows my mind that black film makers dont seem to either.

[maxfax]

11:07 PM on 02/02/2012

I sure hope it fares better than the Get Shorty sequel did, big disappointment for Leonard fans.

[Ohin Gaston]

01:03 PM on 02/02/2012

MUST HAVE QUENTIN(period)

Jackie Brown is a classic!

[maxfax]

11:13 PM on 02/02/2012

"My *** may be dumb, but I ain't no dumb*** " Love that movie!

[Wookiee1972]

08:47 AM on 02/02/2012

It's really misleading to call this a "Jackie Brown prequel." For one thing, the novel Rum Punch, which was filmed as Jackie Brown, came out 14 years AFTER The Switch. For another, it's not Tarantino's work, it's Leonard's.

[julesmu84]

12:02 AM on 02/02/2012

Excited about this from a story perspective, but sad Tarantino isn't on board. Jackie Brown is my favorite QT flick!