Sofia Vergara (“Modern Family”) has drawn interest from the Farrelly Brothers to play a vixen who lures the knuckleheaded trio into a potential murder-for-hire scheme in their big-screen version of The Three Stooges, according to Entertainment Weekly. The move would fall right in line with the casting of TV stars Will Sasso (“$#*! My Dad Says”) as Curly and Sean Hayes (“Will & Grace”) as Larry. We’re still waiting for word on the casting of Moe.
The L.A. Times reports Director Gabriele Muccino (The Pursuit of Happiness, Seven Pounds) began production this week on the soccer comedy Playing the Field, which stars Gerard Butler as a Beckham-like soccer stud who retires from his European playboy lifestyle to return to his estranged American wife (Jessica Biel) and child. He begins coaching youth soccer to show his commitment, but things are made more difficult when a cast of hot and horny locals (Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta Jones, Judy Greer) take a liking to him.
Deadline‘s Mike Fleming reports Hugh Jackman has been given the offer from Universal to replace Viggo Mortensen as the titular huntsman in Snow White and the Huntsman. He’d join Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron in the flick, which should begin production in mid-September. Of course, Jackman’s schedule has freed up a bit given that director Darren Aronofsky’s departure has stalled The Wolverine a bit. Fleming hears Duncan Jones (Source Code, Moon) and David Slade (Twilight: Eclipse, 30 Days of Night) are among the helmers being considered to replace Aronofsky.
Fleming also reports Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl, the upcoming Fright Night remake) is on the verge of being hired to direct Pride and Prejudice and Zombies for Lionsgate. The gig opened up after Mike White, the School of Rock screenwriter, vacated the project.
Universal Pictures has acquired the action-comedy Bait and Switch, which Variety reports is being developed as a possible starring vehicle for Mark Wahlberg, who will also produce the project. Plot details have not yet been revealed.
Walter Hill (48 Hours, Warriors) is one of the helmers being discussed to replace Wayne Kramer (Running Scared, Crossing Over) on the Sylvester Stallone-starrer Headshot. Kramer was dismissed from the project this week after creative disputes with the star, who said Kramer’s vision for the film was “much darker and exceptionally more violent than how the project was originally conceived.” How could a film called Headshot possibly be too violent? And why doesn’t Sly just direct it himself if he has such a fleshed-out vision for the project? So many questions, so few answers.
The great William Fichtner has entered final negotiations to join Elysium, director Neill Blomkamp’s follow-up to District 9. The futuristic sci-fi tale is said to feature a social allegory akin to District 9, and has a cast that already boasts the likes of Matt Damon, Jodie Foster and Sharlto Copley.
And finally, Robert “The Natural” Redford looks to return to the baseball diamond, this time starring as legendary Brooklyn Dodgers executive Branch Dickey in a biopic centering on Dickey’s relationship with Jackie Robinson, the black player he famously signed. The L.A. Times reports Brian Helgeland, the Mystic River and L.A. Confidential screenwriter whose directing credits include Payback and A Knight’s Tale, will both write and direct the project.
