John Woo Teams Up with Sparks for a Half-Musical

John Woo movies always have a spark – the legendary Hong Kong director is responsible for some of the greatest (and most bonkers) action ever committed to the screen. But we’ve never had a John Woo movie with Sparks – the legendary cult pop duo also known as Ron and Russell Mael. Until now, that is.

Woo’s Latest Project: A Half-Musical

In a major upcoming interview with Empire, Woo confirms that his next project is a half-musical, to be worked on with the Sparks Brothers. The director explains, “My next project is actually a half-musical. I’m going to be working with the Sparks Brothers, who wrote the script and songs — we are just starting work on some changes to the script.”

X Crucior: The Musical Epic

While Woo didn’t confirm the name of the project, all signs point to it being X Crucior, a film described by Focus Features as a ‘musical epic’. This isn’t the first time Woo has expressed his desire to make a musical – he came close to adapting The Phantom Of The Opera into a big-budget songfest starring John Travolta in the 1990s. Woo reveals that the Sparks collab will require a change-up from his usual production style, joking, “It will be my first movie where I don’t need to hire a stuntman.”

Sparks’ Big-Screen Credentials

Of course, this isn’t Sparks’ first foray into big-screen entertainment – their work was chronicled in Edgar Wright’s documentary The Sparks Brothers, while they collaborated with Leos Carax on ‘rock opera’ musical Annette. Last week, Sparks shared a photo with Woo on Twitter – and note the ‘#xcrucior’ hashtag in there:

The Sparks Brothers documentary

Woo’s Other Projects

Beyond his Sparks film, Woo – whose latest work is a remake of his own legendary hitman movie The Killer, this time starring Nathalie Emmanuel – has plenty more in the pipeline. “I have a Western project; a wonderful script from Brian Helgeland,” he reveals. “It has a lot of romance and a lot of emotion and exciting action.” The director continues to fire on all cylinders, then. While flying through the air. With doves. In slow-mo.

Read the Full Interview

Read Empire’s full John Woo interview in an upcoming issue.

Conclusion

John Woo is a director known for his over-the-top action sequences and memorable characters. Collaborating with Sparks, the legendary cult pop duo, will undoubtedly bring a unique sound and style to his upcoming half-musical, X Crucior. As the director continues to explore new genres and styles, fans can expect exciting projects to come from his table in the near future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the title of John Woo’s new project?
A: Woo has not confirmed the title, but all signs point to it being X Crucior.

Q: Who is the music duo collaborating with John Woo on his new project?
A: The music duo is Sparks, comprised of Ron and Russell Mael.

Q: What genre is John Woo’s upcoming project?
A: Woo has confirmed that his project is a half-musical.