Natalie Portman wants to get Professional
Before there was Hit-Girl, there was Mathilda. Seeing adolescents toting guns and generally beating the crap out of people has become commonplace but back in 1992, watching tiny Mathilda brandishing a hand gun in Luc Besson’s Léon: The Professional was a tad more controversial. Turns out child actress-turned-Academy Award nominated adult, Natalie Portman is more than willing to reprise her famous role, but not for just anyone.
MTV News recently spoke with Portman during a press junket for her upcoming film Black Swan and broached the subject of a sequel to the cult classic. They asked her about the rumored screenplay and while she seemed to admit it’s existence, that’s as far as she’ll go.
“No, I have never read it because Luc won’t direct it himself, and so I’m only interested…I told him, I told him if he would do it himself then I would be there in two seconds but he won’t so…”
Besson is one of my favorite directors and while a lot of people over the year’s have told me they think he should make a sequel to The Fifth Element (my favorite film of all-time), I’d never agree that was a good idea. However, in my opinion, a Léon sequel would be magical. I’m with Portman though, no Besson, no-go. What do you think? Could you see Portman as Mathilda today?
In a recent interview on french tv, Luc said he was to prepare a new sci fi movie, not the sequel of the Fifth Element, but something in the same spirit, and BIGGER :)
Yes, Please.
I agree with Ms. Portman though, no Besson no sequel.
I would also like for it to be filmed for a European audience rather than a U.S. audience. Maybe that's a producer thing though.
Beson's not done very good stuff lately. I mean, his ideas are kinda still there, but it's been proven over time, that he's not the only one now interested in ideas that can be pitched at comic cons. Loved The Professional, but really, it stands better as a single film, imo. Trying to cash in at this time seems a bit wonky.
Also, I hated, The Fifth Element.
I'm all for it but only if Jean Reno and Luc Besson are there to do it right.
No shit, I was at a party with Natalie Portman like 11 years ago.
I say go for it, what is the worst that can happen? It is going to suck?
As a fan of the movie (and Besson's work in general) I'd love to see a sequel (but only if Besson directs). However, I also fear that a sequel might be kind of pointless, since much of the power of the original came from the fact that Mathilda was so young. With her as an adult, it really just becomes another movie about a hired assassin.
I do sometimes wonder if she took Danny Aiello's advice and went back to school.
I'd be interested to see what Mathilda's struggles are as a young woman. As long as the heart is in a sequel that was present in the original, I'm all for it. How does a girl manage a career as a "cleaner" in a more realistic film, not a stylized thriller? That would be interesting to watch.
I would like to take a moment to confess my love for Natalie Portman. I don't think they should do a sequel. Sequels suck, but so do remakes, movies made from books that I have read, but they get made and make money, so what do I know.
The Professional is one of my all time favorite movies and I would love to see what Matilda is up to these days. Has she succeeding in becoming a cleaner or has her life cleaned up and gone in a different direction? However, I agree that the only person who should make this movie and answer these questions is Luc Besson.
While the idea is exciting as all get out, I still have so many misgivings about how wrong it could go, that you almost don't want them to even try it.
Like Ghostbuster 3.
Just be careful, you're treading on my heart.
I would love a sequel to Leon and I agree it should only be done by Besson.