Al Pacino is a modern acting legend, but even legends with a reputation such as Pacino's take a couple of projects that are way outside of their wheelhouse from time to time. One such project was the 1990 Warren Beatty vehicle, Dick Tracy, in which Pacino hammed it up as gangster Big Boy Caprice. Was it Shakespeare? Far from it. Was it fun? You bet your ass it was; and now it looks like Pacino would be willing to jump head first into the comic waters as he's expressed interest in working with Marvel Studios.
Deadline got to talk with Al Pacino at the Venice Film Festival, shortly after he admitted to absolutely loving James Gunn's tour de force that we all know as Guardians Of The Galaxy. Here's a portion of his gushing comments...
"I recognized the ingenious stuff they were doing; the invention, the attractiveness of the way they were performing it. It had Shakespearian feeling to it at times. I was caught up in the big screen, the great sound…"
To have Guardians Of The Galaxy described as "Shakespearian" in parts is just another feather in James Gunn's cap, and Al Pacino would be the guy to make that comparison as he's all about the works of The Bard. In fact, if one were to describe Pacino's more experimental attitude that he's taken with his career in the last decade or so, they would say that he has divided his acting portfolio into three pies: offbeat and challenging pictures, Shakespearian pictures, and paycheck pictures. As of late, the offbeat has been the most active portion in his career, which makes his the prospect of the man who was Michael Corleone working for Marvel Studios all the more tangible.
When asked point blank if he'd get involved with a Marvel project, were he ever approached, Pacino knew exactly how to answer.
"I would do anything that I could understand in terms of how I fit in it. And you know, of course if I could fit in it. Anything’s possible. You know, I did Dick Tracy and I got an Oscar nomination, so come on. I mean, what can I say?"
That type of attitude is exactly what fans like to see in actors such as Al Pacino and even current Marvel contract player Michael Douglas. That eagerness to teach themselves a new trick in a vastly growing genre that's pretty much cornered the cinematic market in our modern times. It's not only an excellent method of staying relevant, it's also a really exciting prospect for comic fans to see characters from the page come alive on the screen with an A-list personality behind them.
Of course, all of the eagerness in the world won't stop a heavy hitter like Al Pacino from dropping an offbeat project at the last minute, so perhaps it's not the best time to start revving the rumor mill. Though if you're a Marvel executive and you happen to be reading this, it is definitely a good time to start approaching Al Pacino's people with an offer. Phase 3's still shrouded in mystery, and there's bound to be plenty of room for a man of Pacino's stature to play.
In the meantime, Al Pacino can next be seen in both The Humbling and Manglehorn, which are awaiting release dates before the end of 2014.
