Clint Eastwood is certainly testing his talents as 2010 saw him dabble deeper into the world of visual effects with Hereafter and now we get word he’s set to direct his first full-blown musical as Deadline reports he’s signed on to direct a remake of A Star is Born with singer/actor Beyonce set to star.
This is the fourth version of the story I’ve added to the database here at RopeofSilicon. A Star is Born first hit the screen in 1937 when William A. Wellman directed Janet Gaynor and Fredric March, followed by the Judy Garland musical remake in 1954 directed by George Cukor and in 1976 Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson starred in the poorly received (yet two-time Oscar winner) version directed by Frank Pierson.
The script was penned by Remember Me scribe Will Fetters and centers on a starry-eyed girl dreaming of being a star only to have to scrape out a living as a waitress until she finds a helping hand from a alcoholic movie idol. Nick Cassavetes (The Notebook) was the first director attached to it and still was when I spoke to Fetters last year. That obviously fell by the way side and now Eastwood is hoping to get started on the pic this Fall.
As of now the male lead has not been filled, but Deadline’s Nikki Finke offers a variety of potential candidates she’s heard mentioned including Will Smith, P Diddy, Eddie Murphy, Robert Downey Jr. and Jon Hamm.
There’s still time, of course, as Eastwood is only now getting ready to begin filming J. Edgar with Leonardo DiCaprio starring as the controversial FBI director. I must say, I’m certainly more interested in the Hoover film, but the prospect of Eastwood once again delving into new corners of filmmaking is always enticing.
