Justin Theroux replaces Chris Evans in The Girl on the Train movie
Although it was announced in September that both Chris Evans (Marvel’s The Avengers, Before We Go) and Jared Leto (Suicide Squad, Dallas Buyers Club) had entered negotiations to join DreamWorks’ upcoming adaptation of Paula Hawkins‘ runaway bestseller The Girl on the Train, the trades also mentioned the caveat that one or the other might have to bow out due to scheduling. It seems that has now happened, as The Hollywood Reporter reveals that Evans has left the film due to expected scheduling issues (likely caused by Marc Webb’s currently-lensing drama Gifted or Captain America: Civil War promotional work), leaving “The Leftovers” star Justin Theroux to take his place.
Theroux will join the previously-announced stars Emily Blunt (Edge of Tomorrow, Into the Woods), Rebecca Ferguson (Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, Hercules) and Haley Bennett (The Equalizer, The Hole) in the Tate Taylor (The Help, Get on Up) film.
DreamWorks picked up the rights to The Girl on the Train movie in 2014 and had Erin Cressida Wilson (Secretary) begin the adaptation process even before the novel was published in January by Riverhead Books and sold over 2 million copies worldwide. It was the #1 book on the New York Times bestseller list for 19 weeks following its release.
On Hawkins’ official site, “The Girl on the Train” is officially described as follows:
Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.
And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?
Blunt is set to play Rachel with Theroux taking the role of Rachel’s ex husband, Tom. Ferguson, then, is Anna, Tom’s new wife, while Bennett and Leto are to play a married neighbor couple that wind up inextricably tied to the plot.
The Girl on the Train movie will be produced by Marc Platt and Jared LeBoff for Marc Platt Productions.
Besides his acting work on HBO’s “The Leftovers,” Theroux co-wrote the upcoming sequel Zoolander 2 with Ben Stiller.
(Photo Credit: WENN)
