Filling the market’s need for films “based on an infamous yacht-racing cheat whose misadventure on the high seas more than four decades ago still haunts his family,” Kate Winslet and Colin Firth are reported to be circling an untitled, true-to-life project scripted by Scott Z. Burns (Side Effects, Contagion); no mention is made of the writer taking directing reigns, though, as it’s something he’s wished to do for a number of years, the possibility need not be entirely ruled out. The title in question focuses on Donald Crowhurst, an English businessman whose plans to save a flagging enterprise were crossed with a ship race, his struggles in completing said race leading to continuous forms of deception that made failed his trip legendary. [The Daily Mail]
Blueprint Pictures are behind the title, which is likely to shoot next year or early 2015.
Making a reunion with both his 1408 co-star and source author, it’s said that Samuel L. Jackson is coming aboard a Stephen King adaptation, Cell, which has had John Cusack locked to star since October of last year. TheWrap inform us of the deal, saying that director Tod “Kip” Williams will begin shooting the picture this January, taking from a script by Adam Alleca and King that depicts an apocalyptic scenario whereby mysterious signals delivered through cell phones turns people into uncontrollable, flesh-consuming psychotics. Cusack is taking the lead, playing Clay Riddell — a New England resident trekking from Boston to Maine in hopes of finding his son — while Jackson has a major supporting role as “Tom McCourt, an engineer and former soldier.”
Michael Benaroya, head of financier Benaroya Pictures, hopes to see it bring forth an “‘elevated genre’ film,” whatever that might truly signify; producing efforts of the Genre Company would, I suppose, nevertheless seal that deal.
THR have more casting news, learning that Bobby Cannavale and Rose Byrne will follow their dual stint on Annie with Brother’s Keeper, a New York-set tale directed by Ross Katz (Taking Chance) and with a screenplay from Liz Flahive and Jeff Cox. Nick Kroll, also a producer, sounds to be the lead, apparently portraying “a young, narcissistic entrepreneur who crashes and burns on the eve of his company’s launch.” Taking to Manhattan and living with “his estranged, pregnant sister and his brother-in-law [, as well as] his 3-year-old nephew,” the protagonist winds up being their nanny, ostensibly in service of both laughs and heart. (Also: Shades of both Blue Jasmine and Cannavale‘s character in that film?)
Jay and Mark Duplass will executive produce Brother’s Keeper, with shooting expected to commence in January.
It’s next said that Greetings from Tim Buckley director Dan Algrant has found a follow-up project, Christopher Walken and Lenny Kravitz included: Little Rootie Tootie, which will see the former portray Sonny, “a veteran jazz pianist who is mourning the death of his wife,” his “manic and destructive” behavior only further thrown out of sorts by the arrival of his son (Kravitz) and daughter-in-law, themselves musicians. This line of mutual business could prove fatal, what with “the eccentricities inherent in being working musicians [leading] them tumbling toward a tragic but impactful conclusion.”
Little Rootie Tootie, like the two projects noted before it, is expected to start filming this January.
Finally, THR also inform us that Gerard Butler has begun eyeing a second pairing with his Law Abiding Citizen director, F. Gary Gray, on a project that could not possibly be any more absurd than that 2009 effort. Taking their attention, now, is Kane & Lynch, an adaptation of the 2007 video game that followed two titular criminals tasked with recovering a large load of money. Butler would play Kane; Vin Diesel has been eyed for Lynch, a “schizophrenic killer,” but it’s too early to tell if Nu Image/Millennium Films will manage to snag the ever-busy star.
Which of these projects seem most promising? Do any of the casting decisions strike you as wise?