Michael Caine: Tougher than you? Probably.
Last week we got some details about the sequel to “Journey of the Center of the Earth,” the awkwardly titled “Jourey 2: The Mysterious Island.” To recap, the second film will center around Josh Hutcherson, who played not-returning-Brendan Fraser’s nephew in the first film. Taking over the vacant adult male slot will be Dwayne Johnson, in the role of Hutcherson’s character’s mother’s boyfriend (terrible over apostrophe use there–sorry). The story, loosely based on Jules Verne’s “The Mysterious Island,” will send Johnson and Hutcherson to a mythical and monstrous island to search for his (Hutcherson…’s character’s) lost grandfather.
Now (finally–this, journalism school kids, is a stellar example of burying the lead) The Hollywood Reporter brings us the news that the role of the grandfather has been cast. And it goes too…Michael Caine!
(Oh, you figured that out from the post title? Eek. Sorry.)
Fans of kick-ass older gentlemen need not fear–according to THR, Caine is not doing a simple cameo where all we see are the occasional shot of him tied to a tree. Supposedly he will be seen in “in action mode, engaging in several chase sequences, including one involving giant bees.” Giant bees?!! Friends, I warn you, this is in 3D. So these bees will be coming right at you. Probably very loudly. For Mr. Caine’s sake, I hope that they are pure CGI and we will not see a “bee wrangler” credit on the film.
Caine showed he could still play the tough guy in last year’s “Harry Brown,” and as one of Christopher Nolan’s favorites, showed up in this year’s big hit “Inception.” Expect to see him as Alfred, dispensing advice to Bruce Wayne, who probably won’t listen, in the “Untitled Batman Project.”
