When a Werner Herzog film starts casting, you know that it’s going to be a little weird. But there are gradations of weird, and right now Herzog’s adaptation of Vernon God Little is ranking right up there. Yesterday we reported that British comedian Russell Brand was in talks to join the so-called ‘school shooting satire’ and today we learn that both Mike Tyson and Pamela Anderson are also considering joining the cast.
Vernon God Little is based on the book by DBC Pierre, from a script by Andrew Birkin (Perfume). It takes place in the small town of Martirio, Texas, where a Columbine-style school shooting ends with the shooter and six classmates dead. Although he isn’t the gunman, Vernon is soon suspected of being involved somehow. The film will be Herzog’s next, once he manages to wrap Queen of the Desert.
It’s as yet unclear what roles Mike Tyson and Pamela Anderson will take on, but any film that includes those two is going to be strange. Herzog has a reputation for slightly crazed casting choices that create an overall tone. He brilliantly harnessed Nicolas Cage’s madness in Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans, and of course managed to survive a whole series of films with Klaus Kinski. While none of the Vernon God Little cast are quite up there with those great madmen, Herzog is obviously trying to establish a bizarre tone for this one.
We shall have to wait and see how this pans out. I honestly cannot even guess what Herzog is going to do with such an outlandish cast, but I’ve learned to give him the benefit of the doubt. No matter what, it’s sure to be interesting.
We will keep you updated on casting developments as they happen. What do you think of Herzog’s choices thus far? Does Vernon God Little intrigue you now?
