I’m not sure if you have or know anyone who has torn his or her ACL. It is not a fun time. It happened to my sister a couple of years ago, and she still feels some pain after a bunch of recovery methods, and it would probably be very unwise to start a job that required a lot of movement and action, which is why The Deep Blue Goodbye will not be moving forward at Fox.
Christian Bale, who would have been the film’s lead, recently tore his ACL before starting production on the Michael Lewis adaptation The Big Short. He is still moving forward on that film, as it basically requires him to stand and sit while talking. The climax for The Deep Blue Goodbye, however, is reported to involve a chase across boats. That would be tough to do with that injury.
The film also would have starred Peter Dinklage and Nicola Peltz and been directed by James Mangold, which would have reunited him with his 3:10 to Yuma star. The producers did try to save the film by trying to find a new lead, looking at people including Brad Pitt, but were unable to find a replacement they both liked and was available.
It is unclear what will happen with this project. The adaptation of John D. MacDonald‘s book has been floating around Hollywood since the ’90s with Paul Greengrass and Oliver Stone having been attached to direct over the years, as well as Leonardo DiCaprio was to star at one point. I am sure at some point this will get made, but Fox will have to put in even more time than they already have for that to happen.
Travis McGee is a self-described beach bum who won his houseboat in a card game. He’s also a knight-errant who’s wary of credit cards, retirement benefits, political parties, mortgages, and television. He only works when his cash runs out, and his rule is simple: He’ll help you find whatever was taken from you, as long as he can keep half.
McGee isn’t particularly strapped for cash, but how can anyone say no to Cathy, a sweet backwoods girl who’s been tortured repeatedly by her manipulative ex-boyfriend Junior Allen? What Travis isn’t anticipating is just how many women Junior has torn apart and left in his wake. Enter Junior’s latest victim, Lois Atkinson.
Frail and broken, Lois can barely get out of bed when Travis finds her, let alone keep herself alive. But Travis turns into Mother McGee, giving Lois new life as he looks for the ruthless man who steals women’s spirits and livelihoods. But he can’t guess how violent his quest is soon to become. He’ll learn the hard way that there must be casualties in this game of cat and mouse.
Original report from The Hollywood Reporter.
