Harmony Korine Revives ‘The Trap’ as an Anime Feature and Set Up Motion-Capture Comedy

The multitalented icon Harmony Korine has lined up his next two features: his animated debut, The Trap, and a still-untitled mo-cap-assisted comedy through his multimedia design collective, EDGLRD. Korine’s approach to filmmaking features an erratic, loose, and transgressive aesthetic, exploring taboo themes and incorporating experimental techniques and works with art, music, fashion, and advertising. It would be interesting to see how Korine would be incorporating these elements in his upcoming film, or will he surprise his fans by serving something fresh?

What is Harmony Korine’s upcoming project ‘The Trap’ all about?

According to Variety, Harmony Korine’s upcoming feature, The Trap, is described as “Oldboy,” set through a hip-hop filter. The movie imagines another sun-kissed gangster saga, following a convicted person newly released from prison and deadset on revenge once he learns that his one-time accomplice has become a top-selling rapper. Originally set up at Annapurna, “The Trap” was almost made as a live-action film starring Jamie Foxx and Benicio del Toro, but the project fell through just before production. Now, Korine plans to reimagine it as an anime, with EDGLRD executives currently talking to production partners in Japan. Meanwhile, in Miami, EDGLRD is starting pre-production on a comedy directed by Korine based on an earlier script. Details are still unclear, but the project will use motion capture technology and virtual creation techniques developed in-house.

The synopsis of The Trap reads: “Rico (Elba) is at the top of his career and about to enjoy a triumphant night at the Grammy Awards when Slim (Del Toro) is released from prison after 14 years. Slim is determined to exact revenge after learning that Rico not only achieved fame and fortune but also married his girlfriend and raised Slim’s son as his own. Slim’s plot includes recruiting a crew of Uzi-wielding surfers led by Max (Pattinson) as well as enlisting the help of Rico’s cocaine-happy manager (Franco). Pacino will play Slim’s parole officer.”

“Comedy is at the core of Harmony’s work,” says EDGLRD film strategy head Eric Kohn, who was previously executive editor and VP of editorial strategy at IndieWire. “So people will be pleasantly surprised when they find out more because this a very familiar style for him while a bit more intimate than what people are used to seeing.”

While Korine works on his next project, we eagerly anticipate his upcoming film, Baby Invasion. It’s a surreal home invasion thriller filmed as a first-person shooter that uses EDGLRD-developed technology to swap the assailants’ faces with those of babies. The filmmaker is also working on a comedy based on an earlier script. Details about this project are still unclear, but it will involve using motion-capture technology and virtual creation techniques.