Gary Ross Won’t Be Directing ‘CATCHING FIRE’, Lionsgate Has A Shortlist Of Replacements
Earlier this week it was announced that Gary Ross wouldn’t be returning to direct the Hunger Games sequel Catching Fire. There had been rumblings of “problems” during the production which didn’t help when Steven Soderbergh ended up offering his services as second unit director. Ross’ shaky-cam shooting style was said to be the biggest flaw of the film. So it’s not surprising to see the studio searching for a new visionary director. Hunger Games is now a franchise and needs to evolve that could mean different directors with each new film. The film has already earned for Lionsgate and they need to keep the production moving or risk losing Jennifer Lawrence to the X-Men First Class sequel.
24Frames reports the studio already has a shortlist of directing candidates which includes Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men, Gravity), David Cronenberg (Cosmopolis, Eastern Promises) and Alejandro González Iñárritu (21 Grams, Biutiful, Babel). Alfonso seems like the best choice since he’s come into an established franchise before with the Prisoner of Azkaban and is currently one of the best science fiction directors working today. Alejandro has the awards pedigree with multiple films earning Oscar nominations and wins. However, he’s never made the jump to blockbusters so it could be interesting to see him take on Catching Fire, even more science fiction. Oddly enough, while Cronenberg seems the weirdest choice of this group he was previously offered to direct films like Return of The Jedi, Robocop (original) and Top Gun.
Keira Knighley Replacing Marion Cotillard In Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis?
ThePlaylist says that Keira Knightley could possibly be taking over the female lead in David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis. Marion Cotillard originally was set to star but likely had to leave over her recent pregancy. It’s not the first casting shake up on the film as Robert Pattinson took over for Colin Farrell who left to focus on Total Recall. Paul Giamatti has been in talks for a role in the film but nothing has been confirmed. The production starts shooting in May so an announcement should be made soon.
While I’m not a fan of Pattinson’s work I’m curious to see anything made by Cronenberg. It would make sense to see Knighley join the production as the role would be the wife of Robert’s character. The actors are similar in age and make more sense to be paired up. Keria recently worked with Cronenberg on the film A Dangerous Method and could have made an impression with the director. I’m curious if Knighley is still up for a role in The Dark Knight Rises.
Dreamworks Remaking Timecrimes Steve Zallian Hired, David Cronenberg Directing?
Deadline reports that Dreamworks has acquired the rights to the Spanish time traveling thriller Timecrimes. The studio has hired Steven Zallian (Schindler’s List) to work on the remake’s script. Zallian recently worked on David Fincher’s version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and is also writing Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman. While I enjoyed the original film it was missing something that could be improved upon in a remake. There had been talk from the original director Nacho Vigalondo that David Cronenberg was is in the running to direct the English remake.
Wicked City (2010)
Back in 2006 Variety reported that there would be a live-action film directed by Mark A.Z. Dippé (Spawn: The Movie). Since then there has been little to no information, maybe for the best. It may have been killed or sold off to another studio. The original was one of the influential anime films that inspired The Matrix films. Considering the cult status of the original anime film I would expect a bigger studio and director to get involved.
I would have loved to see David Cronenberg replaced as the director. His previous films “Naked Lunch” and “eXistenZ” are perfect examples of the type of movies which are similar to the anime. The sexual themes are very important to the story and mood of the picture and Cronenberg isn’t afraid of using sex in his movies. He would also attract a well known cast.
“My Casting Picks”
-Clive Owen cast as Taki and Marion Cotillard as Makie.
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