Over the last couple of weeks, The Hollywood Cog has given me a few scoops that fall in the “interested” category, which is to say: The actors are “interested” in these particular projects, but they are not attached, they are not signed, and the projects themselves — while in development — have not even been greenlit. When an actors marks himself down as “interested,” it basically means he or she is saying, “Hey! The pitch sounds cool. Send my agent the script when it’s finished, and I’ll take a look.” One of those “interested” stories was Sandra Bullock and Steve Carell being interested in Tom Perotta’s Abstinence Teacher, which has already been reported elsewhere. These potential casting notes fall under that same category — they’re iffy, at best. So, if you must label, then label the following as rumors, though interesting ones:
A couple of months ago, Deadline reported that Bret Ratner and Relativity Media were producing a edgy reimagining of Snow White — Brothers Grimm: Snow White. The Hollywood Cog is reporting that Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Mic Macs) is considering directing and that Natalie Portman has some interest in playing the “edgy” Snow White.
Dustin Hoffman is eying the role of the crime boss in The Contortionist’s Handbook, which is set to star Charming Potato.
As has already been reported, Walt Disney is developing Fallen, a fantasy drama in the vein of Twilight, but with fallen angels instead of vampires. The movie is based on the recently released Lauren Kate book about a teenage girl in high school who experiences forbidden love, have to choose between two young men who she is unaware are fallen angels who have battled over her for centuries. Liam Hemsworth is interested in the role of one of the fallen angels (or, the Tyler Lautner one?)
The $40,000 Man, which has been in development for a while, has Robert Downey, Jr. interested in the lead role of a legendary astronaut and “true American hero,” who is horribly in jured in a car crash and is rebuilt by the government to be a bionic man but on a budget of $40,000 - which makes him not that bionic. John Daley (“Freaks and Geeks”) rewrote the script, which was originally written by Terry Zwigoff.
Ron Howard and Brian Grazer are producing a Peter Craig scripted flick Little America, which is bizarrely being described as a cross between Black Dog and Speed. It’s about a 16-year-old prostitute who inadvertently kills a gang member, and then must go on the run. She hitches a ride with a truck driver who is hauling a lethal toxin. The truck driver and the prostitute bond during the chase. Kristen Stewart is interested in the role of prostitute, while Josh Brolin is interested in the role of the truck driver.
Yon Motskin has written Ethel, a period drama slash complex love story, about Ethen and Julius Rosenberg. It centers on Ethel, who has to choose between her husband, Julius— who may or may not be a spy— her dysfunctional family, and her own life. Sam Rockwell is interested in the Julius role.
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And I am vehemently disinterested in anything to which Ratner is attached. Sorry Natalie.
Posted by: Rykker at September 21, 2010 11:39 AM
See, Rykker, I'm willing to overlook Bret Ratner for the combo of Jean-Pierre Jeunet & Natalie Portman.
In other news, every time I see the name Charming Potato, it cracks me up.
Posted by: tamatha at September 21, 2010 11:45 AM
As has already been reported, Walt Disney is developing Fallen, a fantasy drama in the vein of Twilight, but with fallen angels instead of vampires.
And one of the two fallen angels will be named Azazel and has the gift of song.
Tiiiiiiiiiiiime... is on my side... yes it is...
Posted by: branded at September 21, 2010 11:53 AM
Alison Brie should be Snow White! Someone get me on the horn with Hollywood. They are making a big mistake!
Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at September 21, 2010 11:57 AM
"a teenage girl in high school who experiences forbidden love, have to choose between two young men who she is unaware are fallen angels who have battled over her for centuries"
And somewhere in German Wim Wenders just screamed in anguish and jumped off the roof of a tall building.
Posted by: PaddyDog at September 21, 2010 11:58 AM
Hey, at least Lauren Kate can write. The teen girl torn between two boys thing is nothing new. It has been staple fantasy fodder for centuries. And if this can replace Twilight as the go-to story for tweens, I'd be thrilled.
Posted by: Reba at September 21, 2010 12:11 PM
[Snow White awakens early in the morning to the sound of knocking at the front door. She is sticky and haggard from her late-night orgy with Doc, Grumpy and Goofy. She slides out of bed, lights a cigarette and goes to open the front door with only her panties on.]
Snow White: What the fuck, man! People are trying to sleep!
Queen: All alone, my pet?
Snow White: What's it to you, bitch?
Queen: The... the little men are not here?
Snow White: Oh, they ain't little. The retarded one is hung like a baby's arm gripping an apple.
Queen: [Sniffing] Mm-hmm. Baking pies?
Snow White: Why, you want a taste [thrusts out hips and points at groin]
Queen: It's apple pies that make the menfolks' mouths water. Pies made from apples like these.
Snow White: You aint' heard? I'm the fairest in the land, bitch! Men's mouths water from looking at my apple bottom ass!
Queen: Yes, but wait 'till you taste one, dearie. Like to try one? Go on. Go on, have a bite.
Snow White: Fuck no. I don't accept food from strangers. People are trying to kill me out there; I'm not fucking stupid.
Queen: Since you've been so good to poor old Granny, I'll share a secret with you. This is no ordinary apple. It's a magic wishing apple.
Snow White: A wishing apple? Did you escape from the old folks home? Are you lost?
Queen: One bite, and all your dreams will come true.
Snow White: Oohhhh, I get it. It's a "special" apple that will make me see shit. That's cool, dude. Give it to me.
Queen: Yes, girlie. Now, make a wish, and take a bite.
Snow White: [takes bite] Fuck. Yeah. [passes out]
===
No, edgy Snow White sounds awful.
Posted by: superasente at September 21, 2010 12:39 PM
Sorry, Reba, having read "Fallen", I can't really agree with you. While the book didn't have quite as much page space devoted to the heroine just describing the hero and his amazing dreamy-ness as "Twilight", it still had a pretty dumb heroine, was really predictable, and rather boring.
Darling husband just had a hernia operation (cost $20,000) and his protate removed (cost $40,000). He's moving a little slower lately. I'm thinking if "The $40,000 Man" was horribly injured in a car crash and rebuilt by the government, he's going to look worse than a lot of veterans I've seen wheeling around Walmart.
Posted by: BWeaves at September 21, 2010 1:33 PM
I also can't agree Reba. I've read Fallen and found it to be just as much of a steaming pile of crap as Twilight was.
Posted by: lillie at September 21, 2010 1:56 PM
Edgy Snow White has already been done. It had Sigourny Weaver as the evil queen and was called, Snow White, A Tale of Terror, and wasn't half bad.
Posted by: DeckOfficer!! at September 21, 2010 5:00 PM
Having seen Snow White (the character, within Disneyland) a mere few
hours ago, you've no idea how madly I was cackling while reading
superasente's story snippet. Outstanding visual of the 'movie'!
Posted by: Ms MoMo at September 21, 2010 5:43 PM
angels fighting over a teenage girl for centuries???
so, in this context, the word angel is interchangable with any mythical or fantastical creature. this dispenses with all lore and mythology about what supposedly an angel is. why not just choose unicorns or gnomes.
2 griffins go to highschool and battle over a teenage girl.
Posted by: idleprimate at September 21, 2010 6:32 PM
It’s about a 16-year-old prostitute who inadvertently kills a gang member, and then must go on the run. She hitches a ride with a truck driver... never to be seen again.
There, I solved that problem for them, now they needn't bother. Unless Kristen Stewart actually decides to go hitchhiking to "prepare" for her role.
Posted by: Uda at September 21, 2010 10:58 PM
Portman is way too busy to take on this project (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, remember?). Plus: the other Snow White script just got picked up in one of the biggest deals of the year, so that looks like it will move into production sooner.
And I am vehemently disinterested in anything to which Ratner is attached. Sorry Natalie.