Josh Hutcherson will star in an action movie remake of “Romeo and Juliet”
Step aside, Leonardo DiCaprio, because Josh Hutcherson is set to play the world’s most famous ill-fated romantic in an updated version of Romeo and Juliet.
In Die in a Gunfight, a reimagining of the iconic Shakespeare play, Romeo and Juliet will leave fair Verona for the grisly world of corporate espionage.
Think Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, but with fewer Hawaiian shirts and more dapper suits. And while parting is such sweet sorrow, we have a feeling Die in a Gunfight will say farewell to Shakespearean language and go the update route instead.
But, friends, we’re really leaving Romeo and Juliet behind in Die in a Gunfight, as our star-crossed lovers will also shed those iconic names and instead go by Ben (Hutcherson) and Mary (The Maze Runner‘s Kaya Scodelario).
The action-romance project will also star Helen Hunt and Olivia Munn in unspecified roles.
If we had to guess, we’d pick Hunt for either a Friar Laurence-type mentor or, of course, either Mary or Ben’s mom, while it wouldn’t surprise us if Munn filled in as vengeful cousin Tybalt.
“We are delighted to assemble a top-tier cast and creative team to bring this vibrant and passionate film to life," said producer Mark Gordon in a statement. "Showcasing exhilarating action and timeless emotional themes, Die in a Gunfight will surely resonate with audiences around the world.
Produced by the Mark Gordon Company, Die in a Gunfight will be written by Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari, who wrote Marvel’s upcoming Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Collin Schiffli (Animals) is set to direct.
Shooting for Die in a Gunfight is set to begin next month in Boston.