• Is Brad Pitt circling the villainous role of Moriarty in Guy Ritchie‘s "Sherlock Holmes" sequel?
That’s what screenwriters Kieran & Michele Mulroney seemed to suggest in a recent interview with Collider, saying "I hope Brad likes it." What is the "it" the Mulroneys are referring to? Why, the "Sherlock Holmes 2" screenplay, of course. And why would he be reading that if he weren’t considering playing a part in the film? See where I’m going with this?
Back in September, the Hollywood Reporter mentioned that Pitt had held discussions with "Sherlock Holmes" producers about playing Holmes’ nemesis, but a deal never materialized. Pitt’s involvement would certainly make sense, as he previously co-starred in Ritchie’s "Snatch."
Before the film’s release, Pitt was rumored to appear in several shots of "Sherlock Holmes" as Moriarty but the character was always seen hiding in the shadows and production insiders have since confirmed that Pitt was never on the "Sherlock" set.
The Mulroneys wrote and directed the superhero-themed indie dramedy "Paper Man" and previously worked on WB’s "tabled" tentpole "Justice League."
• "The Last Song" star Liam Hemsworth has reportedly been offered the lead role in "Northern Lights," which was previously set to star "Twilight" hunk Taylor Lautner, reports Deadline.
David Ellison‘s Paramount-based Skydance Productions is behind the extreme flying project, which follows four young pilots as they compete against the best in the world.
Apparently, Ellison has co-written himself a big role in the film, a move that has allegedly scared off some actors, since Ellison doesn’t have much acting experience. He previously appeared in "The Chumscrubber" and "Flyboys."
Lautner was due to be paid $7.5 million before he bailed on the project. It’s unlikely that Hemsworth will see a similar payday should he accept the part. Hemsworth is due to breakout beyond Miley Cyrus‘ teenage fanbase now that he’s been cast as the lead in Chuck Russell‘s upcoming "Arabian Nights."
Ellison (the son of Oracle’s Larry Ellison) will produce "Northern Lights." He’s also exec producing "Mission: Impossible IV" and the Coen brothers‘ "True Grit."
• Oscar-nominated actress Vera Farmiga ("Up in the Air") will star in Prominent Pictures’ western-flavored indie "A Thousand Guns," reports Variety.
Spanish filmmaker Daniel Calparsoro will direct from a script by Russell Friedenberg. The story follows a preacher’s wife on her quest for revenge, although it’s unclear at the moment who she’ll be taking revenge against, not to mention why.
You don’t seem too many Westerns toplined by women, so even with the barest of loglines, the film deeply intrigues me for now.
Prominent principals Heather Rae ("Frozen River") and Paull Cho will produce the project on a budget somewhere between $2 million and $10 million.
Farmiga recently announced she’ll make her directorial debut with the religion-themed drama "Higher Ground." She’ll wrap up work on Duncan Jones‘ "Source Code" before shooting Madonna‘s period drama "W.E." this summer.
Rae and Cho are in post-production on "Magic Valley," a cautionary tale set in a small Idaho fishing town starring Scott Glenn and Kyle Gallner. Prominent is also behind Sian Heder‘s "Tallulah," which is based on his short film "Mother." The film concerns a neglectful Beverly Hills mom who hires a stranger to babysit her child.
