There's no question that Clint Eastwood is one of the most respected and revered actor/directors in film history. The 82 year-old has certainly stayed busy in a career that has spanned six decades, and after starring in Trouble With the Curve earlier this year and another directorial project in the works, he is showing no signs of slowing down.
Eastwood's latest project, A Star is Born, would actually become the fourth version of a story that was last remade in 1976; an incarnation that starred Barbara Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. Even though the latest update has been in production for several years, as of this moment, the project has failed to land a male lead and has recently seen its female lead, Beyonce Knowles, drop out.
Knowles was originally cast for the leading role of an aspiring singer who falls for a fading star nearly two years ago, but her pregnancy last year delayed production. Sources now tell Variety that a packed schedule and the fact that the film is still without a start date may have caused Knowles to abandon the project.
The film can add Knowles' departure to a laundry list of setbacks that have currently plunged it into "Development Hell." Eastwood has gone through many potential actors for the male lead, including Russell Crowe, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Christian Bale, but no one has climbed on board. Even Tom Cruise was in talks to join the cast, but also dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.
However, the A Star is Born does have a few thing going its way. Jon Peters (who produced the 76 version), Bill Gerber (Gran Torino) and Basil Iwanyk (The Town) are in as producers and Will Fetters (Remember Me) is writing the script that reportedly will feature a Kurt Cobain-inspired main character.
With Knowles out of the picture, the search is already on for a replacement. Eastwood has reportedly expressed interest in Grammy Award-winning jazz musician Esperanza Spaulding. However, no offer will be made to an actress for the female lead until an actor for the male lead is confirmed.The latest name to crop up on that list is Bradley Cooper, who recently appeared in Silver Linings Playbook. But with Hangover 3 in production and a role in David O. Russell's untitled project coming up, there may be too much on Cooper's plate already.
Eastwood is obviously dedicated to the project and hasn't given up yet, but for now it looks like it may be some time before production on A Star is Born gets up and running. As always, we will keep you posted on this project and its latest developments.
Sources: Variety,