Alfonso Cuarón is prepping his sci-fi space epic, Gravity, and we already know Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man 2, Sherlock Holmes) is set to star, but who will the leading lady be? It was rumored that Scarlett Johansson (Lost In Translation, Vicky Cristina Barcelona) is in talks for the role, but NY Daily News is reporting that upcoming The Green Lantern star Blake Lively wants to take the part.
It is reported she approached Cuarón “to snag the role for herself before Johansson inked a deal.” Though their source reports the director is “dead set” on have Johansson take the part of one of the “two astronauts – Robert Downey Jr. will play the second – who must figure out how to get back to Earth after an exploding satellite kills the other crew members on the mission.”
All this news is kind of odd, considering Blake Lively plays Ryan Reynolds love interest in Martin Campbell‘s The Green Lantern and Reynolds is married to Johansson. With shooting starting soon, I’m sure we will find out the cast of Gravity in due time.
In other Scarlet Johansson news, Vulture is reporting she is committed to star alongside Vince Vaughn in David O. Russell’s Old St. Louis. The film is a “Paper Moon–esque road movie about a divorced traveling toy salesman who reconnects with his teen daughter after years on the road. Johansson would play Vaughn’s paramour, a secretary who accompanies them on their cross-country sales jaunt.” We reported earlier that Chloe Moretz would possibly play the daughter.
With the $20 million project looking to start shooting this October, the same time around Gravity, it will be interesting to see if Johansson can do both.
Would you like to see Johansson take both roles? Which film are you more excited for?