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"I Wanna Be a Cleaner"

By Steven Lloyd Wilson | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (17)



Thumbnail image for NataliePortman.jpg

Natalie Portman’s film debut was of course 1994’s The Professional (or Leon if you subscribe to the thesis that filmmakers are able to actually assign names to their own works), in which she played the role of Mathilda, a role which Prisco pointed out was an apex she has never quite recaptured. Hit Girl? Mathilda was Hit Girl without the comic book sheen of ironic self consciousness.

It’s well known that most Hollywood names tend to coordinate the news they drop in interviews with our Seriously Random Lists, so Portman decided to let MTV know that contrary to previous interviews in which she expressed no interest in returning to the role of Mathilda, she now would be up for it.

Luc Besson has reportedly written a script for a sequel already. It’s naturally titled Mathilda, so in America it would probably be The Pro2essional for reasonable reasons of cultural differences. The problem is that we’ve got a stand off here because unfortunately, Besson says he’s retired and won’t be making any more films.

Portman’s gone so far as to refuse reading the script, saying “I have never read it because Luc won’t direct it himself, and so I’m only interested if he [directs] … I told him if he would do it himself, I would do it in two seconds, But he won’t, so…”

Now hopefully Besson is only retired like Michael Jordan used to retire every other year, I mean, really, nobody retires from making movies. It’s like being in the mafia, there’s only one way out. So maybe he’s just been crotchety because there was no way he was going to change up actresses for the sequel, and now he’ll jump on the train since Portman’s on board too.

Either that or the project will get handed off to McG and he’ll sign Taylor Swift up for the role. It could really go either way at this point.

(source: Blastr)









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Comments

Torn about this one. Leon is one of my favourite films, and seeing Mathilda grown up is intriguing. But I don't want a shoddy sequel. Be amazing if Besson would do it himself.

Posted by: Carrie at September 28, 2010 10:14 AM

Any news on who will be the child that covers the whole creepy borderline sexuality thing?

Did I just tempt the shitstorm gods?

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at September 28, 2010 10:24 AM

One word, Mrs. Julien: Bieber.

Posted by: Steven Lloyd Wilson at September 28, 2010 10:30 AM

They could find a far more talented little girl to take the role of Mathilda's protege, SLW.

Posted by: admin at September 28, 2010 10:36 AM

Seriously though, I think the only way this works is if Portman and Besson reprise their roles. Maybe they could bring Lieutenant Stansfield back from the dead too.

Posted by: admin at September 28, 2010 10:38 AM

@SLW I actually laughed/barked HA! when I read that, but can the tiny lesbian act?

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at September 28, 2010 10:45 AM

While The Pro2essional is hilarious, I bet the American version will just be called The Cleaner. So when the DVD comes out we can call the director's cut Mathilda: The Cleaner. Because that won't be confusing at all.

Posted by: RobP at September 28, 2010 10:45 AM

Wow. I am really torn about this. I love The Professional/Leon but I really think it caught lightning in a bottle. Young Portman, before she became a child-rapist sympathizer, BRILLIANT turn by Gary Oldman and the first time many of us had seen Jean Reno. It was a gritty, brilliantly told story that DOES NOT need to be told again.

Let Leon, Stansfield, and Leon's plant rest in peace.

Posted by: dammitjanet at September 28, 2010 11:02 AM

I'd be interested in seeing whether Mathilda's houseplant has bloomed into a full bush. Hey-ooo. Who's with me?

Posted by: MisterMJ at September 28, 2010 11:32 AM

Leon's plant didn't die!

That's just crazy talk.

Posted by: Fridge at September 28, 2010 12:46 PM

The Professional don't need no fucking sequel.

Natalie Portman is really a dude.

/it's a dude, dude.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at September 28, 2010 12:59 PM

Per IMDB, Besson has always said he would retire after ten films. Why the arbitrary number, Luc? He obviously still cares about storytelling, or he would not have written the script. I guess he has other things to do.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at September 28, 2010 1:36 PM

"Per IMDB, Besson has always said he would retire after ten films." -DarthCorleone

Could this be the end of Zombie Stansfield?

Posted by: Groundloop at September 28, 2010 2:16 PM

Either that or the project will get handed off to McG and he’ll sign Taylor Swift up for the role.

Opening weekend of $25 million, guaranteed. Add the Bieber chick for another $10 mill.

Posted by: Uriah Creep at September 28, 2010 11:17 PM

Apparently Besson doesn't have TIIIIME for this Mickey Mouse BULLSHIT!

Posted by: stryker1121 at September 29, 2010 7:51 PM

"It’s naturally titled Mathilda, so in America it would probably be The Pro2essional for reasonable reasons of cultural differences"

Bless you Steven Lloyd Wilson, that was the funniest thing I've read all day, and I spend my time browsing comedy all over the web so that's saying something.

Posted by: Ender at September 30, 2010 8:23 AM

Yes, Besson has probably come up with a very smart material like "TAXI" or "THE TRANSPORTER 2". Can't wait for it!!

Posted by: james at September 30, 2010 3:08 PM