One of the biggest announcements at Comic-Con 2006 last week -- at least, for me -- was the news that Kurt Russell, one of my all-time movie heroes, had signed on to star in Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's double feature "Grind House," which is scheduled for release next year. "Grind House," which is an homage to low-budget exploitation films of the 1970s, takes on an unusual format by featuring two movies; Tarantino and Rodriguez are each making a separate 75- minute feature.

Russell will play the a killer called "Stuntman Mike" in Tarantino's segment,
titled "Death Proof," which is said to be Tarantino's take on slasher films.
"Death Proof" will also star Rosario Dawson (see more on href="http://www.twitchguru.com/2006/07/25/the_jive_dudes_at_comic/page4.html">T
witchGuru) and Rose McGowan. Meanwhile, Rodriguez's segment, titled "Planet
Terror," will also star McGowan as well as Naveen Andrews (TV's "Lost"), Michael
Biehn ("Aliens," "Terminator"), and Josh Brolin ("Goonies," "Flirting With
Disaster").

Personally, I'm thrilled that Russell is taking on an edgy role in this unusual
project. Ever since I saw him as Snake Plissken in "Escape From New York," he's
been one of my favorite actors of all time. After a rough stretch a few years
ago -- "Solider," "3,000 Miles to Graceland," and "Vanilla Sky," which were all
awful -- he rocked the house as Herb Brooks in "Miracle" and as a corrupt cop in
"Dark Blue." I'm still waiting for Kurt to reteam with John Carpenter and make
another Snake Plissken movie. In the meantime, I'm starting a "Plissken for
President" campaign.