Windtalkers (2001)

Plot: In World War II, American forces used Navajo to send secret messages in their native language. Japanese codebreakers weren't able to break the Navajo language "code." The movie follows such a mission with a group of troops sent along as escort.

News:

28 September, 2001

This just isn't MGM's year. First they moved Rollerball back to 2002 and now Windtalkers as well. Instead of a holiday 2001 release, the World War II epic gets bumped to June 14, 2002.

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16 May, 2001

This poster is appearing at the Cannes Film Festival.

22 January, 2001

Is he acting or is he grumpy? Can't really tell but this shot shows Nicolas Cage and director John Woo talking over something on the set of their movie.

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16 January, 2001

It appears that a sequence involving an American tank destroying a Japanese bunker has been scrapped. It would appear that the scene was cut by MGM execs for reasons unknown.

The report comes from Caltanet which also managed to get a hold of some photos from the production, one of which you see here.

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3 November, 2000

Frances O'Connor, the object of Brendan Fraser's desire in Bedazzled has been added to the cast of the movie.

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13 September, 2000

A recent article in the Honolulu Advertiser provides a report on rehearsals that occured recently at Kualoa Ranch. That is the site for a battlefield set in Saipan. Director John Woo chose the location because of its resemblance to Saipan. At least a hundred extras are on hand for the rehearsal. The bulk of these were dressed in American infantry uniforms from World War II. The battle scene being prepared for will feature over 200 explosions.

Prior to filming the extras went through a seven day boot camp to prepare them. "It was pretty tough," said extra Jim Armen. He also mentions that many of the extras had previous military experience.

Woo says that the movie, despite being set in a war, is about individuals. "It’s all about friendship," the director said. "And the Navajo. We want to tell their story. . . . I will try to make it very realistic, very real and touching."

The start of filming was kicked off with a native Hawaiian blessing.

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29 August, 2000

Hawaii shooting details

11 August, 2000

Coming Attractions is reporting that the cast is heading to Hawaii this weekend for a two week boot camp to get them ready for the project. Also going along for the camp is the newest member of the cast, Martin Henderson. He was apparently the runner up for the role of Peter Parker in Spiderman.

1 August, 2000

Brian Van Holt has been signed for a role as a young Marine officer in director John Woo's World War II project. Van Holt will be starring opposite Nicolas Cage and Christian Slater. His most recent role was opposite Amanda Peet (The Whole Nine Yards) in the upcoming sex comedy Whipped.

Windtalkers follows soldiers assigned to protect a group of Navajo used by American forces to send secret messages. Japanese codebreakers were never able to successfully crack the Navajo language used as a code. The soldiers here are guarding the Navajo messengers but are under orders to kill them rather than let them be captured.

8 June, 2000

John Woo's (Mission: Impossible 2) next project is the World War II drama Windtalkers. The movie is based on the groups of Navajo the US used during the war to send messages in their native language. The Japanese were never successful in their attempts to crack this "code."

Christian Slater has agreed to star in the film along side Nicolas Cage. The two will play soldiers assigned to guard the Navajo. However they are under orders to kill them if it appears they are about to be captured, rather than allow them to fall into enemy hands.

Shooting is scheduled to begin in August in Hawaii. Woo will be filming from a script by John Rice and Joe Batteer (Blown Away).