Entertainment Weekly reports that Rihanna is being considered to play the Vanity role in the remake of Berry Gordy’s 1985 kung-fu musical The Last Dragon. We’re usually skeptical when our cult faves are subject to reboots, but after rewatching Vanity’s performance of “7th Heaven” from the film in the clip up top, we actually can picture RiRi assuming the role of the VJ-in-distress. That said, we can also envision Chris Brown starring as the film’s naïve, Bruce Lee-worshipping protagonist originally played by Taimak, but the role of a violent hero might not be the best career move for the Graffiti singer right now. (That and his restraining order would make the romantic scenes with Rihanna difficult.)
Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA is listed as executive producer for the film, and while we’d love to see him play the film’s villain Sho’nuff, the Shogun of Harlem — picture a Blaxploitation version of Gene Simmons — Samuel L. Jackson reportedly is the favorite to appear in that role, which seems like it would be cater made for RZA’s Wu-mate Ol’ Dirty Bastard if the rapper was still alive. So yes, we approve of a Last Dragon remake, Hollywood, but promise to keep your hands off of Purple Rain.
Bonus Flashback: Two more clips from Last Dragon, Sho’nuff’s amazing entrance scene and Taimak learns of the power of “The Glow”:
...Article Source: Rolling Stone : Rock and Roll Daily