Wanted (2008)

Director:	Timour Bekmambetov
Writers:	Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, Chris Morgan
Cast:	James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie, Common, Thomas Kretschmann
Released:	Friday, June 27, 2008
Length:	110 minutes
Studio:	Universal Pictures
Genre:	Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Action/Adventure
Rating:	Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Wanted Synopsis

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Wanted News

Wanted's Derek Haas Talks Sequel  10/24/2012 4:15 PM EDT
There has been a lot of talk regarding a sequel to "Wanted", the 2008 comic book thriller that starred James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie, for a while now. So, it's refreshing to hear screen writer Derek Haas talking about the sequel.Something that must come as no surprise, however, is the fact that Angelina Jolie will not be coming back, despite all the rumors that have been saying she will. Instead...  More>>

Wanted 2 Production Has Begun  9/28/2011 3:34 PM EDT
"Wanted 2" is moving along in production. Derek Haas, along with Michael Brandt, have been hired to write the sequel. Both of the men wrote the script to the original as well.According to Haas, the film will "take off after the events of what just happened. Pick up Wesley a few years later and go back in for another round."There is no casting news as of yet. Supposedly there had been the idea of...  More>>

Angelina Jolie In Wanted 2?  6/18/2009 10:15 AM EDT
Rumors are starting to swirl around that Angelina Jolie may be making appearance in the second installment of the "Wanted" franchise (even though her character died in the first film)A Russian website said that not only will Jolie be back, but Konstantin Khabenskiy will also be back.The project is said to be filming in U.S., India and Russia, and will begin pre-production next month....  More>>

Mark Millar Talks Wanted 2  4/22/2009 1:07 PM EDT
Mark Millar, producer of the upcoming film, "Wanted 2", recently commented on the film, on his official site.  Millar spoke about the recent hiring of Evan Spiliotopoulos, to write the film. Many thought this was a surprising hire, considering Spiliotopoulos wrote the script to the film, "Pooh's Heffalump Movie".Millar said that Spiliotopoulos "did a GREAT action script recently (on an unproduced ...  More>>

Wanted Sequel Update  9/3/2008 11:18 AM EDT
With word of a "Wanted 2" on the horizon, Mark Millar wants the world to know that he won't be making any sequels in comic book form as a follow up to the 2004 series that spawned the film. "I've got this reputation of being a total whore, and even when I'm adamant about something like this, people don't believe me, but there is nothing else coming from Wanted," Millar said. "That six issues was t...  More>>

Universal Home Entertainment Creating Wanted Movie Game  7/17/2008 12:46 PM EDT
Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group (UPDPG) is creating a video game based on Universal Pictures' blockbuster action-thriller "Wanted", starring James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie. The game will be published worldwide by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and is being developed by renowned game developer GRIN, best known for its work on the Tom Clancy: Ghost Recon Advanced ...  More>>

Wanted Sequel in The Works  7/15/2008 11:05 AM EDT
"Wanted" creators are wasting no time getting a sequel in the works.  According to Variety, Marc Platt's contract has been upped by 5 years, keeping him in tow through late 2012.  While most of the principal characters don't have a story that could really continue into a second film, the creative team would like to get James McAvoy back.  They planned all along to make the film a franchise.  "The...  More>>

Danny Elfman Composes and Sings on New Wanted Soundtrack  6/2/2008 10:08 AM EDT
Composer Danny Elfman's newest score for the upcoming Science fiction film, Wanted, is now up on MySpace. Be sure to listen to the track "The Little Things" in which Danny Elfman adds his vocals for the first time in years.You may also pre-order the soundtrack at Amazon.com</a...  More>>

Angelina Jolie Wanted Teaser Poster Debuts Online  4/28/2008 12:42 PM EDT
"Wanted", the new Angelina Jolie film being released on June 27, has a new movie poster out giving a bit of info about her role.The film follows 25-year-old Wes (James McAvoy), who lives a stagnant existence, and who many people expect very little from. then, one day his life changes drastically when his estranged father is murdered.  He meets Fox, Jolie's character, and she recruits him into the ...  More>>

Wanted Staff Review

Once in a while, there are movies that break the mold of your typical action genre and define the next few years of action films. In the 1980's, it was Die Hard; in the 1990's, it was the Matrix; in the new millennium, it is Wanted (well I thought it was).

Wanted is based upon Mark Millar's explosive graphic novel series and helmed by stunning visualist director, Timur Bekmambetov -- creator of the most successful Russian film franchise in history, the Night Watch series. Wanted tells the tale of one apathetic nobody's transformation into an unparalleled enforcer of justice.  Stars include James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie, Common, Thomas Kretschmann, and Terrance Stamp.

Twenty-five-year-old Wes (James McAvoy) was the most disaffected, cube-dwelling drone the planet had ever known - until he met a woman named Fox (Angelina Jolie). After his estranged father is murdered, the deadly and sexy Fox recruits Wes into the Fraternity, a secret society that trains Wes to avenge his dad's death by unlocking his dormant powers. Wes grows to enjoy all the strength he ever wanted. But, slowly, he begins to realize there is more to his dangerous associates than meets the eye. Wes will come to learn what no one could ever teach him: he alone controls his destiny.

In this day and age action/science fiction genre movies are relatively common and follow the same exact formula. By bringing in Timur Bekmambetov and boldly making a bloody and intense R Rated action movie, Universal Pictures hoped to break the mold. Unfortunately, it just turns out to be a combination of movies we have seen before (Matrix, Fight Club, and Office Space).

The script, written by Michael Brandt, Derek Haas, Chris Morgan, is extremely edgy and fits very well with Timur Bekmambetov's dark directional style.

Wanted's cast has its share of hits and misses. The primary characters of Wes (James McAvory), and Fox (Angelina Jolie) are played superbly, along with the rest of the supporting cast. However, Academy Award winner, Morgan Freeman, seems to just be reciting his lines and not really making the audience believe he is the head of a fraternity of assassins.

All in all, Wanted is a good summer ride. Even though it did not live up to expectations, it was still a breath of fresh air from the normal Hollywood action film that goes by a carefully planned recipe.

--Nathan M Rose

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Wanted images © Universal Pictures. All Rights Reserved.