With Ballerina hitting theaters, y’all need to put some respect to the man who popularized the “waif assassin” trope – Luc Besson. Here’s the story about two potential waif assassin sequels he could still pull out.
Y’all remember Luc Besson, the man who practically created the “waif girl assassin” trope with Nikita and, to a lesser extent, Leon: The Professional?
Well, he was gonna double down on that trope with a sequel to Leon focusing on Natalie Portman’s character, Mathilda.
Unfortunately, rights issues got in the way. He eventually redrafted the Mathilda script, excising any references to Leon and creating a totally new character.
That script went on to become Colombiana starring Zoe Saldana.
Irony: In trying to create a sequel for one waif girl assassin, he’s now opened the door to two sequels.
In a 2010 interview with MTV, Oscar-winner Portman said she’d be game for a Mathilda movie but only if Besson directed.
Fellow Oscar winner Saldana said in a 2017 interview with Glamour Magazine that she’d love to do a Colombiana sequel. However, she’d only do it if Besson was on board.
Besson has gotten all those sexual assault and harassment cases behind him (we ain’t forgotten that, Luc!). Now is the perfect time to clean his profile with some high-caliber (in talent and ballistics) sequels.
We’re still waiting on Mr. Shadow, the urban legend of a sequel to The Fifth Element that Besson said he’d never make (and, admittedly, would be tough without Bruce Willis). But you can only make so many Liam Neeson action movies before you need that megahit, Besson.
And before Neeson’s knees give out.
Plus, you gotta steal your niche back from Ballerina.
