Yun-Fat, Neeson, and now Bloom for Johnnie To’s Red Circle

Okay, Chow Yun-Fat and Liam Neeson, I can get behind. But I’m not sure what Johnnie To needs Orlando Bloom (pictured, left) for. The film in question is called “Red Circle”, a remake of the 1970 French crime thriller by Jean-Pierre Melville and starring Alain Delon. While Chow Yun-Fat and Liam Neeson are currently in negotiations to star in the film, The Hollywood Reporter reports that the offer has also gone out to Orlando Bloom to join the cast. To will direct, while his longtime collaborator Wai Ka-Fai (”Full-Time Killer”, among many) will write the script.

Here’s the plot of the original from IMDB.com:

Corey is a cool, aristocratic thief, released from prison on the same day that Vogel, a murderer, escapes from the custody of the patient Mattei, a cat-loving police superintendent. Corey robs Rico, his mob boss, then enlists Vogel and an ex-police sharpshooter, Jansen, in a jewel heist. While Corey is harried by the vengeful Rico, Mattei pressures Santi, a nightclub owner and pimp, to help him trap the thieves. Over all hangs the judgment of the police directeur, that every man is guilty.

If the deal goes through, and To does end up directing, this will be his most expensive to date. Accordin gto The Hollywood Reporter, the movie is budgeted at a hefty $40 million. Media Asia and France’s Studio Canal will co-produce/finance the project.