They say only about 10 percent of working actors become movie stars, and the studio execs coming up with the major movies roles don’t have a creative bone among them. When you combine these two facts, you get my weekly Role Call. Here’s the skinny on who’s doing what–in all its good, bad and very ugly glory.
Zellweger is keeping busy
There’s nothing like getting over a failed marriage by jumping right back into work. Oscar-winning Renee Zellweger, who is in the process of annulling her four-month marriage to country singer Ken Chesney, is casting her eye toward horror after signing on to star in a Hollywood remake of the 2002 Hong Kong psychological thriller The Eye (Jian Gui), according to Hollywood Reporter. Ah, the Asian horror flick strikes again. Tom Cruise and production partner Paula Wagner, who acquired remake rights to Jian Gui, will produce the movie while Japanese director Hideo Nakata (Ringu) will direct. Zellweger will play a blind woman who undergoes a corneal transplant that restores her sight. Her new eyes, however, allow her to see ghosts. Uh-oh, that can’t be good. The woman sets out to uncover the origins of her cornea and the history of its donor. Of course, she’d have to, wouldn’t she? But The Eye isn’t all Renee is up to. She’s also set to topline Miss Potter. No, it’s not a movie about Harry Potter’s mom; it’s a biopic about acclaimed children’s author Beatrix Potter, who wrote those lovely little stories about Peter Rabbit and his friends, and her struggle for independence in Victorian England. Talk about two completely different kind of films. Ewan McGregor is in talks to play Norman, Potter’s publisher and love interest. Could be an Oscar contender–think Finding Neverland.
Living Fast and Furious….again
Bow Wow, who’s making a roller skating splash in Roll Bounce, has signed up to star with Friday Night Lights‘ Lucas Black in Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, the third installment in the series. “I play an army brat named Twinkie who’s living in Tokyo, and I introduce Lucas Black‘s character to the underground of drifting, which is a new style of racing,” Bow Wow told Entertainment Weekly. “I drive a crazy souped-up van, and because it’s green, I call it the Hulk…”The film, however, will be made without F and F‘s original players Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson or Vin Diesel. Walker, who just recently dipped Into the Blue, recently stated he was a little disappointed to be excluded from the film since he gave the producers the idea of staging it in Japan. He told the Web site About.com, “I wanted to make another one, but my dream scenario was it was going to be Vin, Tyrese and I, and I spoke it over with the powers that be. They’re like, ‘Oh, f**k, we can’t afford that.’ I was really disappointed when it didn’t work out, but I really like Lucas Black… and I really think this third one could be the best one. The only thing that p**ses me off is before we did the sequel, I told them that we should shoot it in Japan… They looked at me like I was insane… Three years later that’s exactly what it is. It’s in Japan.” I hate to say it, Paul, but maybe it was just time to get some fresh faces in the franchise.
The Dallas casting hopefuls heats up
Even though John Travolta is the lead horse, Kevin Costner, Tommy Lee Jones and Mel Gibson have now thrown their hat in the ring to play JR Ewing, the ruthless oil tycoon originally portrayed by Larry Hagman, in an upcoming movie version of classic TV show Dallas, Variety reports. Hmmm, I’m going to have to lean towards Travolta just because I know he can play it over the top. The movie, to be directed by Legally Blonde director Robert Luketic, also taps Jane Fonda as the likely candidate to take on the role of the late Barbara Bel Geddes‘ matriarch Miss Ellie. Not a bad choice, but why would Fonda do something as silly as this? The favorite to play Sue Ellen, originally portrayed by Linda Gray, is Catherine Zeta-Jones, but Demi Moore and Jennifer Lopez are also vying for the role. Oh, definitely Zeta-Jones. She’ll play a great drunk. For the role of Victoria Principal‘s Pamela, Drew Barrymore and Reese Witherspoon have been mentioned. Barrymore is too much of a wild child to play the sweet and naïve Pam. And finally, Lucy, portrayed on the show by Charlene Tilton—Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Simpson and Mandy Moore are all being considered. Lohan, hands down. Hey, what about Bobby, the hunky, too-much-of-a-nice-guy brother to JR? Matthew McConaughey would be perfect!
Bale, Jackman looking for a little Prestige
Christian Bale is in talks to reunite with Batman Begins director Christopher Nolan in The Prestige, which would also star Hugh Jackman. According to the Reporter, the actors will play rival magicians in turn-of-the-century London who battle each other for trade secrets. The rivalry is so intense that it turns them into murderers. The title refers to the residue left after a magician’s successful trick. Now, this is what I’m talking about–originality. The script is based on Christopher Priest’s 1996 novel of the same name and was adapted by Nolan‘s brother, Jonathan, who, coincidentally, wrote the short story on which Nolan‘s breakout movie, Memento, was based. Even more reason to look forward to this one.
Dunst let slip about new Spider-Man villains
The girl just couldn’t contain herself. After months of speculation about the actors behind the masks of the
Spider-Man 3 bad guys, Kirsten Dunst, who is back to play Spidey’s love interest Mary Jane, has let slip in an interview the identities of both the actors and their evil alter-egos. Speaking to Web site Zap2it.com, Dunst said, “We have really great people as the villains in this film–Thomas Haden Church and Topher Grace–Venom and Sandman… Maybe I wasn’t supposed to say that.” Dunst then reversed her claim, admitting Church will play Sandman and Grace, Venom. It doesn’t matter who’s playing who, I want to know what do they do? I’m not really up on my Spidey comics.
Oh good, another boxing movie
The production company behind Clint Eastwood‘s Oscar-winner Million Dollar Baby is going back to the ring with a project about a Latino boxer. According to the Reporter, the Ruddy Morgan Organization is developing late author F.X. Toole’s Pound for Pound, which revolves around a trainer whose life is spinning out of control and the young pugilist who comes into his life. “Its a sprawling, muscular, heart-wrenching story of men for whom life has not been easy and the younger men they help on their road to glory,” Ruddy Morgan principal Al Ruddy said. “This magnificent novel combines a powerful punch with a brilliant ending and no doubt will have the same impact as Million Dollar Baby. Nicely put. Even though Baby won Oscars for picture, director (Eastwood), actress (Hilary Swank) and supporting actor (Morgan Freeman). But the more recent Cinderella Man, which only did so-so at the box office, shows we may be getting tired of watching two people beat the holy whaley out of each other.
Until next week…
