While receiving critical praise for her daring performance in Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan, Natalie Portman was asked an old question by MTV: How about a sequel to the iconic 1994 action film The Professional?
When MTV first asked her if she’d reprise her role as the vengeful orphan, Mathilda, back in 2007, when Portman was coming off of the mixed bag that was V for Vendetta and the career blunder that was Star Wars Episodes 1 – 3, she said, “When something works, you don’t touch it. You try to create something new that’s positive.” She added, “I would work with Luc Besson again, in a second, but [not on a sequel].”
Cut to TIFF 2010. When MTV asked her about the possibility of a Professional sequel based on the rumored script “Mathilda,” she said she’d sign on in “two seconds” – if Besson would direct. She admitted, “I have never read [the proposed script] because Luc won’t direct it himself, and so I’m only interested if he [directs].”
Sadly, fellow Leon fans, that is a big “if.” Especially since Besson has supposedly retired from film directing in 2006 – despite having directed several films since then. But according to Playlist [via Screen Rant] Besson’s less of a concern than the studio that holds the rights to the film – and has no interest in making the sequel.
However, with Portman’s profile on the rise, maybe the stingy studio will have a change of heart, as their would-be leading lady has.
Personally, I’m of two minds on all this.
First off, The Professional is one of my favorite movies of all time. Full Disclosure: I recently watched it during a long train ride and wept like a baby despite the perplexed WTF stares of other passengers. And this part of me clamors to see what Mathilda would be like all grown up. Plus, I’d like to see Mathilda resurface and join the ranks of filmic female ass-kickers she no doubt inspired.
On the other hand…I loved the first film, and would hate to see an awful sequel sully the characters I have such an affinity for….as I’ve seen happen to so many of my Star Wars lovin’ friends.
Would you like to see a sequel to The Professional / Leon?