‘Alita: Battle Angel’ Casts Geek Staple Jackie Earle Haley
By Angie Han/Sept. 15, 2016 7:30 am EST
Based on Yukito Kishiro’s 1990s manga series and set in the 26th century, Alita is billed as an action-adventure story with “themes of self-discovery and the search for love.” The title refers to the lead character, a female cyborg (Salazar) who wakes up in a scrapyard with no memory of her past life. She puts her extensive martial arts skills to use as a bounty hunter while also searching for clues about her own past.
Waltz was cast last month as Doctor Dyson Ido, the cybersurgeon who finds Alita and later becomes her mentor. Details on Haley’s role remain murky, but The Hollywood Reporter’s sources suggest he could be playing “a monstrous cyborg in a villain role that will call for plenty of CG and greenscreen.”
Alita: Battle Angel was in development for several years but gained serious momentum last year when Rodriguez took over at the helm. Cameron, who had originally been planning to direct the project himself, remains on board as a writer and producer. As of now, the big-budget sci-fi project is looking to start shooting this October in Austin, so expect to hear more casting updates soon. The film is scheduled for release on July 20, 2018.
