September 11, 2001, is one of the most unfortunately important days in American history. The terrorist attacks killed nearly 3,000 people, including 2,606 in the World Trade Center; health issues continue to be a problem for people who lived or worked in Lower Manhattan; and the United States invaded Afghanistan a month later initiating the longest war in U.S. history.
It also inspired some (mostly) bad movies. Oliver Stone’s World Trade Center is a mess, Reign Over Me is one of Adam Sandler’s lesser dramatic efforts (and that’s saying something), and while Paul Greengrass’ United 93 is probably the best of the bunch, it’s too obsessed with details to work as well as it might. With the wounds still so fresh, can we, only 15 years later, make a great film about 9/11? Yes, because Charlie Sheen and Whoopi Goldberg are now involved.
Charlie Sheen and Whoopi Goldberg are starring in the independent action-drama Nine Eleven with shooting starting Monday, Variety has learned exclusively. Nine Eleven, directed by Martin Guigui from script he co-wrote with Steven Golebiowski, depicts five individuals trapped in an elevator in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, and their struggle to survive. Luis Guzman, Wood Harris, and Olga Fonda have also been cast. (Via Variety)
Guigui also directed My X-Girlfriend’s Wedding Reception and National Lampoon Presents Cattle Call. If that, coupled with the film starring Sheen and his “dear friend” Goldberg, doesn’t scream prestige, the film’s executive producer is Mark Burg, whose name is attached to the Saw franchise, and the entire thing will be shot at a studio in Long Beach, California.
Maybe it’s not too soon for the first “Nine Eleven” comedy, intentional or not.
(Via Variety)
