question of the day: Does the casting of Adrien Brody and Topher Grace as action heroes signal a shift in action movies?

So, the news came this week that Adrien Brody and Topher Grace would be headlining the upcoming Predator reboot from director Nimród Antal. Say what? Now, sure, Brody is majorly cool — seriously, did you see The Brothers Bloom? OMG, you must — and Grace was a hoot in that one bit in Ocean’s Eleven — but… really? Really?

Antal made the awesome Kontroll a few years back, so that inspires a bit of hope, and, as Cinematical’s Elisabeth Rappe explains, Brody and Grace are sure to bring a certain je ne sais quoi to the flick:

All joking aside, Brody and Grace’s unassuming demeanors will be a big part of their characters. Brody will play a soldier forced to become a leader (presumably because the Predator killed the old one), but is fit for the job because he’s “a hunter of men.” Grace will play a nerdy, accountant type whose very ordinariness hides the fact that he’s a serial killer.

Tee-hee.

But are there two less likely action heroes that Brody and Grace? Or: Does the casting of Adrien Brody and Topher Grace as action heroes signal a shift in action movies?

(If you have a suggestion for a QOTD, feel free to email me. Responses to this QOTD sent by email will be ignored; please post your responses here.)

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jennie
jennie
Thu, Oct 15, 2009 8:58am

Well – I thought James McAvoy was the most unlikely when cast in ‘Wanted’ and he rocked in that. I can see Brody and Grace pulling it off as well.

Lisa
Lisa
Thu, Oct 15, 2009 9:34am

this comes up every once in while remember Keanu Reeves, John Cusack, Nic Cage and Johnny Depp? all not your typical action stars yet they’ve all done action movies – that’s where the paychecks are

Topher Grace was the only funny thing in Ocean’s 12 – “that Dennis Quaid movie? I totally phoned that in” cracks me up every time

RyanT
RyanT
Thu, Oct 15, 2009 10:06am

Elijah Wood in Sin City

James McAvoy in Wanted

Joseph Gordon Levitt in GI Joe

Jurgan
Jurgan
Thu, Oct 15, 2009 2:19pm

Heck, Bruce Willis in Die Hard. Granted, he was somewhat more physically toned, but he was still much more vulnerable than other action stars of the time.

Kate
Kate
Thu, Oct 15, 2009 5:00pm

I recently saw Spiderman 3 for the first time, and no disrespect to Tobey Maguire, but throughout the movie, I just kept thinking it was SO CLEAR that Topher Grace should have been cast as Peter Parker/Spiderman from the get-go.

Paul
Thu, Oct 15, 2009 5:05pm

Let me get this straight: Predator vs. a serial killer? That’s almost creative. Predator vs. Hannibal Lecter. Hmmm. Sort of a Superman vs. Batman question.

Tonio Kruger
Thu, Oct 15, 2009 10:37pm

But are there two less likely action heroes that Brody and Grace?

Michael C. Hall and Jack Coleman?