Welcome to the Back Room Edition, an insider’s look at big casting news and rumprs happening in the movie industry.
Josh Brolin made headlines this week when it was reported that he’s in line to take a starring spot opposite Will Smith for the Men In Black threequel. One of the hardest working actors in showbiz these days (he’s got three films in post-production, one in pre-production and two others lined up), Brolin could step into the black suit and shades first sported by Tommy Lee Jones as Agent K. The latest news is that he’d play K as a younger man with Smith’s Agent J traveling back in time. The film doesn’t have a green light yet but studio Sony is considering a 2010 production start. In other Brolin news, reshoots are gearing up for Jonah Hex the Warner Bros. adaptation of the DC Comics property that Jimmy Hayward is directing. Francis Lawrence, who coincidentally directed Smith in I Am Legend, has been brought in to consult on the reshoots for the film which is set to be released in June next year. Brolin, John Malkovich, Megan Fox, Will Arnett and Michael Shannon all star.
Jennifer Aniston is in talks to star with Adam Sandler in “Pretend Wife.” I make no bones about
being staunchly Team Aniston – I have the t-shirt to prove it – but what is up with the actress’ continuing penchant for picking films with titles that are so ripe for comparison to her real life? I mean, Derailed, Rumor Has It, The Break-Up, He’s Just Not That Into You, The Divorce Party (which Universal optioned for Aniston’s production shingle Echo Films) and now Pretend Wife? Plot details of the film, which Sandler’s Happy Madison is producing, are being kept under wraps but might it not have been better to go with the project’s original title, “Holiday in Hawaii”? Or does Aniston’s potential involvement mean producers immediately summon up the meta? Whatever, she’ll always be The Good Girl to me.
It was a big week in the Woodard household. Alfre Woodard has been cast in the pilot for “Delta Blues,” the Memphis-set TNT drama. The project is executive produced by George Clooney and revolves around a Memphis police officer (Jason Lee) who lives with his mother and moonlights as an Elvis impersonator. Woodard’s daughter, meanwhile, has been selected as this year’s Miss Golden Globe. The role traditionally goes to the daughter of a well-known celebrity and will see Spencer assist during the awards ceremony on January 17. Previous Miss Golden Globes have included such high-profile names as Laura Dern, Joely Fisher and Melanie Griffith. Rumer Willis, daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, famously almost missed her shot at handing out the statues a couple years back. She was selected at Miss GG for 2008 but when the writers’ strike forced the cancellation of the ceremony, there was no role to be filled. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association graciously extended her reign and Willis fulfilled her duties on last year’s telecast.
