According to The Hollywood Reporter, Samuel L. Jackson is set to star as yet another bad guy in Columbia Pictures’ remake of Berry Gordy’s 1985 cult classic The Last Dragon.
Jackson is taking on the role of Sho’nuff, the Shogun of Harlem, originally played by the Julius Carry.
Gordy’s son Kerry Gordy and Davis Entertainment are producing the remake.
Dallas Jackson is writing the script. Dallas heads up the urban family banner DJ Classicz with Davis Entertainment’s John Davis. Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA is co-producing.
The original centered on young martial artist Leroy Green, whose on a quest through the streets of New York to achieve the highest level of martial arts accomplishment, known as the Last Dragon. Those who achieve this ranking possess the Glow, making them the greatest fighter alive.
The new Last Dragon film will coincide with the 50th anniversary of Motown next year.
The original was released in March of 1985 by TriStar Pictures, and also starred Taimak and Prince protege Vanity.
According to the website The Playlist, Jackson has also landed a role in Quentin Tarantino’s war epic Inglourious Basterds. Jackson will be the narrator, who isn’t seen often in the film, “but mostly pops up at random time in the script to add some context and background info” according to the site. The site also states that Maggie Cheung has been cast in the film as the character Madame Mimieux, a French matron of the Cinematheque.
Below is the trailer for the original The Last Dragon.