Deadline is reporting that British director Tom Harper (The Scouting Book for Boys) has taken over the directing reins for the long-in-development Working Title/Universal romantic comedy Lost for Words, written by Richard Curtis and his brother Jamie.
The story follows a Western movie star working in China who ends up in a love triangle with a gorgeous Chinese actress and her translator.
Tom Cruise was attached to star in the movie last year after frequent Curtis collaborator Hugh Grant dropped out, and for a long time, Chinese actress Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) was attached to star in the lead female role.
Harper will likely start from scratch looking for a new cast, one that’s presumably younger than the original plans.
