James Cameron & Robert Rodriguez Choose Lead Actress For Alita: Battle Angel

Producer James Cameron and director Robert Rodriguez have reportedly settled on the lead actress for their planned Manga adaptation ‘Alita: Battle Angel’ - and it’s Rosa Salazar.

Collider report that the ‘Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials’ actress beat out Maika Monroe (’It Follows,’ ‘Independence Day: Resurgence’) and Zendeya (Disney Channel star set to be seen in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’) for the title role. Bella Thorne is also said to have been in contention.

The 30-year old Canadian Salazar will portray Alita, an amnesiac cyborg bounty hunter in the 26th century who sets out to discover who she really is.

The manga series by Yukito Kishiro (originally entitled ‘Battle Angel Alita’) has been a passion project of James Cameron’s for many years.

Cameron had considered making it his follow-up feature after ‘Titanic,’ before instead choosing ‘Avatar.’ It was also a notable influence on his TV series ‘Dark Angel.’

With his forseeable future taken up by ‘Avatar’ sequels, Cameron opted to relinquish directorial duties to ‘Sin City’ director Rodriguez. Remaining on board as producer and writer, Cameron promises “a kick-ass epic.”

However, the project does not yet have an official green light.

Salazar’s other credits include ‘Insurgent’ and TV’s ‘American Horror Story: Murder House.’ She will also be seen in next year’s ‘CHiPs,’ and the delayed ‘Maze Runner: The Death Cure.’

UPDATE: 20th Century Fox have now announced a 20 July 2018 release date for ‘Alita: Battle Angel,’ so it looks like the movie is definitely happening.

Picture Credit: WENN, Viz Media

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