With Bruce Willis? Just maybe. Stephen Frears‘ next project – about a rigged gambling scheme that beats the Vegas books, courtesy of a group of math nerds in Queens and a younger woman (Rebecca Hall) who joins the crew – continues to gain steam, with Justin Timberlake and Catherine Zeta-Jones in talks to join the picture. Zeta-Jones would play Willis’ wife, while Timberlake would play another con man alongside Willis.
Lay The Favorite is based on Beth Raymer‘s memoir of the same name, and the script comes courtesy of D.V. DeVincentis, who had a hand in perhaps Frears’ best film High Fidelity, which is a good sign. The director hopes to shoot the film in April, so all this talk needs to materialize considerably soon. [The Playlist]
These are a bunch of studio performers looking to work with one of the great independent filmmakers. Hopefully they’re willing to challenging Frears as much as he challenges them. Hell, Helen Mirren got an Oscar for it.
Do you like Frears’ work? Excited to see Zeta-Jones and Timberlake join Hall and Willis?