Jack Black to take on King Kong

Posted Tuesday, March 30, 2004 at 8:14 AM Central

by Tim Briscoe

Hot property Jack Black has signed on to star in Peter Jackson's King Kong remake. He will play the adventurer Carl Denham, the role played by Robert Armstrong in the 1933 original.

Black will appear alongside Naomi Watts in the Fay Wray role of Ann Darrow. On the casting Jackson commented, "I've been wanting to work with Jack Black ever since I saw him in High Fidelity... He's a smart and versatile actor blessed with an abundance of energy and charm and I'm absolutely thrilled that he is joining us on Kong."

Peter Jackson is writing the script along with his Lord Of The Rings co-writers Philippa Boyens and (Jackson's wife) Fran Walsh. The film is expected to be ready for a Dec. 2005 release by Universal Pictures.