A three fold report on French actor/director Mathieu Kassovitz. The lad has been busy.
First, Mathieu is going to war. Kassovitz will both star in and direct "Rebellion," based on the true story of French commandos who clashed with tribal dwellers in the South Pacific territory of New Caledonia in 1988. Kassovitz will be back in his double role as actor-director in the "100% real" story about "10 days of hell" in New Caledonia. "I'm coming back to something I can have control over, that's close to who I am as a Frenchman," Kassovitz said.
Second, Mathieu is going to space. Kassovitz will take on planet earth in "MNP," a big-budget pic set on a space station. "MNP," the name of both the first space station and Kassovitz' indie shingle with co-producer Benoit Jaubert, will feature two U.S. stars and eight actors from around the world. "This is my ultimate movie. Everything we've done until now has been preparing us to be able make this movie," Kassovitz said.
Third, and what the hell happened here? File this under speculation but this is what we know. There first was the report about Cassel putting down Kassovitz. In this report we read that Cassel said that he lost touch with Kassovitz in "an ego accident." He laughs. "I don't know exactly what happened, but he is different from the man I met years ago. I built my identity with Kassovitz.... Which is true, some would argue that Kassovitz' 1995 film La Haine was the film that catapulted both men into the spotlight. Then came the punch up. A report translated from French suggests that Cassel and Kassovitz had a tête-à-tête, a head to head, outside a club the other night. Cassel was hosting a private party for cast and crew and friends of his next films L’Instinct de Mort/L’Ennemi public numéro 1. Kassovitz showed up at the club with friend and was rejected at the door. Kassovitz calls Cassel to the door to try to get in and Cassel rejects him as well. Reportedly punches were thrown and the decision went to Cassel. Kassovitz declines that there was a fight at all but that is probably because the reports of the beating from Cassel are true. There was also rumor that Cassel was going to be the lead in Kassovitz' Babylon AD, a role which went to Vin Diesel instead. That could also be fuel for the fire burning in this feud. I think anyone would be pissed if that happened to them.
Talking to Todd about this today and we agreed that one's star is shining brightly and the other's is diminishing. Care to hazard a guess as to who is who?
Thanks Mary.