Michelle Rodriguez, star of Avatar and a series stalwart on Universal’s petrolhead Fast and Furious franchise, has agreed a deal to topline gender-swapping thriller Tomboy, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Directed by Walter Hill, the project has already recruited Sigourney Weaver for the role of a rogue surgeon, who plays an instrumental part across the course of the atypical action flick. Stepping into the shoes of a deadly and feared assassin, Rodriguez’s hitman is known by many and feared by all, but when a deal goes south with a group of lowly gangsters, the character is left in the hands of Weaver’s trigger-happy doctor, who turns the lead character into a woman. From hitman to hitwoman, Rodriquez soon sets about exacting her revenge, teaming up with a nurse named Johnnie to ensure nobody befalls the same fate.
It’s certainly a fascinating set-up on paper, but it remains to be seen how exactly the studio will go about implementing the sex change. For example, will Hill’s refrain from introducing Rodriquez as her normal self until mid-way through the story? Or will the director play with a non-linear narrative to lend the action stalwart a bigger chunk of screen time? Time will tell.
Initially, Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto was involved in Tomboy, though the actress bowed out of the actioner recently just as it was to do the rounds at TIFF in search of a distributor. Now, Solution Entertainment Group is handling international sales of the picture, while Saïd Ben Saïd and Michel Merkt will produce.
Vancouver will play host to Tomboy, A Revenger’s Tale when the cameras begin rolling on Hill’s starry actioner on November 9.
