King Kong cast and crew news

The cast and crew of the upcoming remake of King Kong have spoken to the press about the epic.

13:27 02 September 2004

The cast and crew of the upcoming remake of King Kong have spoken to the press about the epic.

Triple Oscar-winner Peter Jackson has decided to make the monster-movie his next project after the incredible success he enjoyed with his adaptation of JRR Tolkein's Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Jackson explained how he was enchanted by the 1933 original version of the monster-meets-blonde tale - and first filmed a version of it aged 13.

"It's great to be able to finally get the film made. It's a film which I've loved ever since I was a child. It really inspired me to want to become a film-maker," the Lord of the Rings supremo noted.

But he will not be slavish in following the classic film.

"We're really just attempting to make a wonderful, mysterious adventure film," he explained.

"At the end of the day it's about gorillas, it's about dinosaurs and lost islands. Our King Kong is very battered, he's very ancient, he's the last of his particular race on the island.

"He did have a mother and father but they're now dead and there are no more after him. He's the final survivor and he's a very old gorilla."

Naomi Watts, who plays Ann Darrow - the blonde in question - said that she accepted the part without reading the script. "This story is very simplistic and very human, so that's why I'm here," she explained.

School of Rock actor Jack Black explained that he was looking forward to working with Jackson.

"I remember thinking while I was watching The Lord of The Rings: 'man, I've got to get an audition for whatever he does next'," Black said.

"Then I thought that's just stupid. Everybody's going to want to be in his next film, better to just put it out of your mind."

"Then I got the call to come in and talk with them about "King Kong" - you wait your whole life to get a call like that."

The film has been pencilled in for release on December 14th next year.