The third time was apparently not charming enough for Oliver Stone.
The filmmaker — heretofore best known for blowing up stuff and shooting things in high-octane flicks like “Platoon,” “JFK” and “Natural Born Killers” –- is looking to direct yet another version of the classic rags-to-riches/riches-to-rag Hollywood tale, “A Star Is Born,” today’s Hollywood Reporter says. So, what will make the fourth take on this romantic Tinseltown fable unique?
Well, um, take a look at the would-be star: Jamie Foxx.
Yes, the “In Living Color” comic, a relative no-name in the movies, is being talked up as the successor to Fredric March, James Mason and Kris Kristofferson — the previous “Star Is Born” leading men. (All right, maybe the Kristofferson shoes won’t be so hard to fill.)
Foxx is living his own “Star Is Born” story these days. The actor is said to be Stone’s first choice to replace (get this) Will Smith in the new “Star” project. (Smith opted out of the film to make “Ali,” that planned Muhammad Ali biopic.)
“A Star Is Born” would be the second time Stone has helped make Jamie Foxx a movie star. Last year, the director called on Foxx to replace wannabe actor Puff Daddy as the arrogant QB in Stone’s “Any Given Sunday.”
In the all-new “Star Is Born,” Foxx would play a falling-star guy who falls in love with a rising-star girl. So, the next question mark in this curious project is: Who’ll play opposite Foxx? According to the Reporter, candidates for the leading-lady slot include singers Lauryn Hill and Mariah Carey.
This new, hip-hop duet would tread a few footsteps over their old-fashioned predecessors. The first “Star,” released in 1937, starred Janet Gaynor and Fredric March. George Cukor helmed a second (musical) version for Warner Bros. in 1954, with Judy Garland and James Mason. The latest remake, in 1976, featured Barbara Streisand and the aforementioned Mr. Kristofferson.
A source tells the Reporter that the latest film hopes to capitalize on Warner Bros.’ music catalog. A diva all-star affair with tunes by Garland, Streisand and Mariah Carey? For pop aficionados everywhere, it’s reason enough for a remake. Even a weird one.
FOR RICHER OR ROBBERS: Martin Lawrence and Danny DeVito could be swapping goods in the MGM caper comedy “What’s the Worst that Could Happen.” The Hollywood Reporter says that Lawrence has climbed aboard, and DeVito’s in negotiations to star in the film, about a billionaire (DeVito) who swipes a good-luck ring from a con (Lawrence). The production’s set to roll ’em in June.
HURRYING TO ‘RUSH’: Chris Penn’s stuck in traffic again with Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. Variety reports that the heavy from “Rush Hour” has signed up for another installment opposite the dynamic duo. “Rush Hour 2” starts production in the fall.
SEEING ‘SPOT’: After fending off masked serial killers, “Scream” vet David Arquette is ready for the dog pound. Variety reports that the actor’s nabbed the lead role in the Warner comedy “See Spot Run,” set to shoot this June. Arquette comes to the project after potential star Martin Lawrence decided not to go postal. Instead, Arquette will play a postman who takes in a stray dog — make that a stray dog trained to fight crime. Ah, comedy.
