Over the course of his forty-plus years of directing, Walter Hill has given the viewing audience some very cool action movies to enjoy – his credits include THE WARRIORS, 48 HRS., STREETS OF FIRE, EXTREME PREJUDICE, RED HEAT, and BULLET TO THE HEAD. Along the way, he also produced ALIEN.
Hill's latest film also appears to be one of his most unusual and potentially insulting. Currently titled THE ASSIGNMENT and previously known as (RE)ASSIGNMENT and TOMBOY, A REVENGER'S TALE, it stars Michelle Rodriguez as
a hitman who is double-crossed by gangsters and forced to undergo sex-reassignment surgery as punishment, then seeks revenge against them and the surgeon.
Hill wrote the screenplay with Denis Hamill, who wrote the original draft of the script around 40 years ago. It made a lot of sense to me when I heard that bit of information, since the concept has such a throwback sensibility.
Rodriguez is joined in the cast by Tony Shalhoub, Anthony LaPaglia, and Caitlin Gerard, with Sigourney Weaver as the surgeon.
Saban Films holds the North American distribution rights for THE ASSIGNMENT and is expected to release the film by the end of the year. While we wait to hear a release date, you can check out the trailer below.