What If - 'Fox Force Five'

So this is the first in a series of monthly posts which I like to call 'what if'. The idea of these posts is to look at films that almost happened but never did, films that people have expressed interest in happening or films that have happened but were a bit shit and to ask, 'what if they did happen or what if they were good?' In honour of Quentin Tarantino's upcoming film The Hateful Eight, I'm going to be looking at an idea that QT fans have longed for ever since Mia Wallace spoke of it in Pulp Fiction. That's right, it's Fox Force Five. For those of you who don't know, Fox Force Five is a fictional pilot for a fictional show that never happened, Uma Thurman's character Mia Wallace was involved in the pilot and talks about it to John Travolta's character Vincent Vega.

"Fox Force Five." Fox, as in we're a bunch of foxy chicks. Force, as in we're a force to be reckoned with. Five, as in there's one..two ...three..four..five of us. There was a blonde one, Sommerset O'Neal from that show "Baton Rouge, she was the leader. A Japanese one, a black one, a French one and a brunette one, me. We all had special skills. Sommerset had a photographic memory, the Japanese fox was a kung fu master, the black girl was a demolition expert, the French fox' specialty was sex...
The character I played,Raven McCoy, her background was she was raised by circus performers. So she grew up doing a knife act. According to the show, she was the deadliest woman in the world with a knife. But because she grew up in a circus, she was also something of an acrobat. She could do illusions, she was a trapeze artist -- when you're keeping the world safe from evil, you never know when being a trapeze artist's gonna come in handy. And she knew a zillion old jokes her grandfather, an old vaudevillian, taught her. If we would have gotten picked up, they would have worked in a gimmick where every episode I would have told a joke.

Sounds cool right? Well to me and to a lot of fans, Fox Force Five is movie material and although Tarantino has never really expressed any interest in making it into a film, one can't help but speculate what it would be like if he did. So first of all let's look at the plot, I imagine the film to be a grindhouse-esque Charlie's Angels with elements of Tarantino's previous films Kill Bill and Death Proof. I think the film should begin with the force disbanded after an incident on a previous mission, however when the director of the force is kidnapped by an old adversary the girls must reunite for a new mission to rescue their old friend. It's only a bare bones plot summary but I think it could work and with Tarantino's realistic filmmaking style and his clever dialogue it could really be something great. However like any Tarantino movie one of the most important elements is the cast.

The Blonde Fox

The only things we know about the blonde fox is that she was portrayed by fictional actress Sommerset O'Neal, she had a photographic memory and that she was the leader of the team. As the leader she is supposedly a tactical and skilled character both in intelligence and fighting, sort of like a certain Black Widow..? In this case I believe that Scarlett Johansson would be perfect in the role. Being one of the only female Avengers, Johansson has showed that she is excellent at playing a string female character within a male dominant cast which more than qualifies her to do the same in a female dominant cast. She has experience in combat from films like Avenger's Assemble and her portrayal of Black Widow is more than enough proof that Johansson can lead the team.

The Japanese Fox

Said to be a 'kung fu master' the Japanese fox is someone that would have immense skill and knowledge in her field. Someone who I think would be great in the role is Japanese actress Chiaki Kuriyama who is known for her roles in Battle Royale and Kill Bill: Vol I. Kuriyama excelled as the psychotic Gogo Yubari in Kill Bill showing off her ball and chain skills and for me was one of the films best characters. I think the actress would be great as the Japanese fox as not only has she worked with Tarantino before but she is no stranger to combat as seen in her previous films. Kuriyama would be an excellent addition to the cast.

The African-American Fox

The African-American fox was supposedly a demolition expert which implies that she is a strong woman and has no problem breaking things. For this role I'm going to look at another past QT collaborator Tracie Thoms who played Kim in Death Proof. Thoms' character was one of the highlights of the film being one of the first to take on Stuntman Mike and having a badass attitude. I can think of no better actress to play the demolition expert of the force as Thoms has proven in Death Proof that she can portray a strong female with no problem dishing out some violence when the time is right.

The French Fox

The French fox' specialty was described as being sex, the character has to be one who is charming and seductive and of course.. French. The first actress who sprung to my mind was Léa Seydoux who has both the looks and the talent to take on such a role. She has shown that she can be a sensual character in films such as Blue is the Warmest Colour while also showing that she can be quite the badass in films such as Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol. She also had a minor role in Tarantino's Inglorious Basterds so she too has had experience working with the director. I believe her talents would be an excellent addition to the Fox Force Five.

Raven McCoy, The Brunette

Mia Wallace's character as described by her in Pulp Fiction was supposedly an expert with knives, an acrobat and the comic relief of the team, telling a joke in each episode from her grandfathers joke book. Now for me I think that Uma Thurman would have no problem portraying McCoy, although she has aged since Pulp Fiction there is no doubt that she still has the looks and talent for the role. However, if she didn't return for the role I believe that Krysten Ritter would be a worthy replacement. Not only does she look like Mia Wallace but she also has proven to have the wit and attitude to take on the role. If Thurman did not return as McCoy I think it's only right that she have some role in the film as she was the one who introduced us to Fox Force Five.

The Director

No not Tarantino, the director would be the former director of the force similar to M from the Bond series or Charlie from Charlie's Angels. The character would be kidnapped by an old adversary which would set the films plot into motion. For this role I imagined that perhaps an ex James Bond could fit into the shoes, or maybe even Adam West, just some veteran of film or television that would be iconic and recognisable in the role. 

The Bad Guy

The main villain is an old adversary of the director who abducts him for whatever reason. For this role I think Kurt Russel would do a good job as he has shown us his villainous side in Tarantino's previous film Death Proof. He could be both a psychotic and charismatic villain with elements of old bond villainy, perhaps residing on a private island or something.

Other cast members could include Samuel L Jackson as the director's right hand man who could reunite the force, Bruce Dern or Christoph Waltz as Raven's grandfather, Tim Roth and Michael Madsen as the villains henchmen and Sigourney Weaver or Uma Thurman as an old friend of the force who helped to train them. 

Could it Happen?

Most likely not. Tarantino has expressed no interest into making Fox Force Five into a film or television series which is quite unfortunate. Also, a lot of the elements discussed in the concept for the show were used in Kill Bill so it may bare too much similarities to that film. Tarantino has also stated that his next film after The Hateful Eight could be his last so I doubt he would use the idea for his final film. Perhaps Fox Force Five is best left to the imagination and may lose it's charm if ever adapted to the screen, but if it ever was I am sure that Tarantino could do an excellent job.