Because Keanu Reeves is what they perceive as a major action star in America, and they wouldn't bother even thinking to put an actor who is British in the role, that would be too faithful.

*slaps head*

Now February is a dumping ground? Good lord, man... do your homework before you post. You're just embarrassing yourself.

I ask this honestly: Name a British actor with the worldwide draw of Reeves that you would cast. Somebody you would gamble 60 million+ on...

I am up for watching a wet tshirt contest

I didn't name one because I couldn't think of one, but I am sure if they went with a lesser known British actor the budget would drop a bit and not be 60 million+.

Interesting dodge.

Okaaaaaayyyyyy, who would you cast then if money, studios, and Japan didn't matter?

If none of that mattered? Probably either Guy Pearce or Paul Bettany (or Bellamy, the guy from Master and Commander who played the doctor).

I'd hire myself for 4 mil, stink up the pic, invest the money, and never have to work again.

Well Michael Bay is gambling about 90 Million on Ewan MacGregor, who is Scottish, in the upcoming The Island.

I think the best movies have the riskiest casting. Tobey Maguire wasn't exactly a box office draw before Spider-Man. No one had ever heard of Hugh Jackman.

While I don't want to help the guy arguing against me, both Spider-Man and Wolverine/X-Men had the benefit of being rather well recognized comic book characters. An underground comic like Constantine almost needs a major star in it to garner interest.

Then again, there's always the case of Hellboy....

?

I think Paul Bettany would have been a good choice. Unfortunately, he's not a box office draw (it might have helped if his wife was in the film too, though ). Is the character of Kit in the film? Jen could've played her if she could do the accent.

James Marsters is not British

and colin farrell isn't american, yet he pulls it off. I think the point was he has the look and could have pulled it off.

And he's already been playing John Constantine for seven years.

John Constantine. (Blonde guy)



Reeves...NOT Blonde, NOT "British Cool", NOT great actor....ok, but not great.

Don't forget that "Bridgette Jones", a very British character, was played by a "Yank" who did a British accent.

The original teasers had me excited, but recent trailers with the religious themes have me worried. I was not familiar in the slightest with the source material. I'm obligated to see it though because my cousin worked on it. Eh- I probably would see it anyway.

Your right. Whenever I think of quality big budget action movies, I think of February.

Don't get cute, you haven't earned that.

You didn't quantify your original post with "action movie" before, so I will ignore that.

Shall we travel through the past couple of years of February releases? Get ready to print...

50 FIRST DATES, 2004: 39 mil, opening weekend.

DAREDEVIL, 2003: 45 mil - Hey, a comic book movie in February! Imagine that.

HANNIBAL, 2001: 58 mil

Yep. That February has absolutely no potential. A dead month. Studios are just dumping their trash.

^ um, those movies are trash. Just because they made some money doesn't mean they aren't - they just didn't have any competition and don't forget the hype machine.

Were we talking about quality? I invite you to quote me if you think I was referring to quality. What I'm trying to disprove is this childish, uneducated notion that February is a "dumping ground," as a previous poster referred to the month as. With the right product, the month can do wonderful box office.

And CONSTANTINE doesn't have any competition, and has a hype machine. Plus, most will find it trash.

Thank you for making my case.

Scott, you're slipping man.

Remember, Passion of the Christ came out in February.

As did Scream 3.

Yes, we were. Is your memory that short? Let me help you out:
I never called February a dumping ground. I said the fact that this particular movie is being released in February is a sign that it may not be as good as the trailer indicates.

My entire point was that quality big budget action movies usually don't get released in February.

I disagree. There are tons of films out there that did not have big stars and made money. People will go and see this film (or not see it) based off of the genre of the film, the quality of the film, and how well the previews are done.