Christian Bale appears set to reunite with his The New World director and sudden workaholic Terrence Malick. While Malick already has one film in post-production, the still untitled Ben Affleck and Rachel McAdams-led romance (often referred to as The Burial) that’s expected to see the light of day in 2012, this role would be for his next feature. Bale was actually slated to star in the 2012 film before bowing out of the role that eventually went to Affleck.
This new project could shoot in early 2012 in preparation for a 2013 release. Malick is also said to be looking at Rooney Mara (The Social Network, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo), Haley Bennet (Kaboom), Clemence Poesy (In Bruges) and Mia Wasikowska (Jane Eyre, The Kids Are All Right) to fill the female role in the film, which sources say has a story driven by a pair of dominant leads. [Twitch]
In just a few short weeks, longtime HBO series helmer Brian Kirk (“Game of Thrones”) has become quite the hot commodity. After landing the Thor 2 gig a few weeks ago, he has also begun negotiations with Sony to direct the rodeo flick Paper Wings. Tom Cruise actually hand picked Kirk for the project and will assist in developing the script with plans to star as a rodeo champ who falls for an up-and-coming country singer. My research tells me that Reese Witherspoon was set to play the female lead back in March 2010, but I can’t tell you if she’s still on board. [Variety]
Mary-Louise Parker is negotiating to join Universal’s R.I.P.D, the graphic novel adaptation from Red helmer Robert Schwentke. The cast already includes the likes of Ryan Reynolds, Jeff Bridges and Kevin Bacon. She would play the woman overseeing the film’s league of undead police officers. Jodie Foster passed on the role before producers turned their attention to Parker. [Variety]
Conan the Barbarian screenwriter Sean Hood revealed to Empire that he was hired to complete Sylvester Stallone‘s script for Rambo: Last Stand. Hood says “it’s more in line with the small-town thriller of First Blood” than any of the other crazy ideas previously tossed around for John Rambo’s fifth go-round and claims it has the tone of Unforgiven. Sly currently has his hands full with Expendables 2 and Bullet to the Head, so it’s anything but a sure thing that Rambo: Last Stand gets the green light.
Director Shawn Levy (Night at the Museum, Real Steel) is considering leaving Fox’s James Cameron-produced Fantastic Voyage remake after the project has been slowed by difficulties in securing the right cast. His involvement in the project could come down to a meeting with potential star Will Smith in the next few weeks. If Smith joins the project, Levy will likely stay. If not, he would likely walk. In other words, he wants a huge box-office powerhouse to star because he isn’t willing to risk directing a flop. [THR]
One last quick note: A tweet from @DisneyPixar has revealed that the next Toy Story short, “Small Fry,” will premiere before The Muppets on November 23.
