QUICK NOTE: Some people/sites have been taking this story and making up their own versions and it seems to be the trend in Internet “journalism” and has me fired up. Matthew Carnahan wrote Lions for Lambs, he is not directing it and Berg was not cast by him. Redford is directing so at least credit him if anyone. Also, Joe Carnahan mentions he would love to have Berg and Bateman in White Jazz, it is NOT official. If you are going to report on a story be responsible and read. That said, enjoy…
I recently had the chance to sit down with Smokin’ Aces director Joe Carnahan about his cool-as-all-hell movie and while you will need to hold tight for all the Smokin’ goodness, which also includes chatter on Carnahan’s White Jazz based on the James Ellroy novel and even setting the facts straight session concerning him leaving the director’s chair on Mission: Impossible III.
However, for now we get a little bit of third hand knowledge on one of his brother’s upcoming projects, the Robert Redford directed, Meryl Streep and Tom Cruise starrer Lions for Lambs, which was written by Joe’s brother Matthew.
So, I brought up the fact his brother penned White Jazz for Joe and also wrote The Kingdom, which is being directed by Peter Berg and stars Jeremy Piven and Jason Bateman, all of which star in Smokin’ Aces. So I had to ask if this was some large family they had formed, “It’s great because Pete was in the movie and Pete used Mauro Fiore to shoot The Kingdom who shot Smokin’ Aces and used a lot of the guys I had in that movie,” he said.
“You feel a bond and we’re all friends, I’ve been friends with Pete for years. My brother did Lions for Lambs, which Redford is directing right now and Pete’s going to play the general in it, the colonel giving them the brief in the beginning. I love it, and I know with White Jazz I’m going to put Pete in there somewhere too.”
At that moment I also had to say there had to be room for Jason Bateman in White Jazz, “Totally!” he said, but more on that next week.
For more on Lions for Lambs click here; The Kingdom click here; White Jazz click here; and of course Smokin’ Aces click here.
