Bradley Cooper to Star in and Maybe Direct Remake of German Film “Kokowaah”

February 27, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

bradley-cooper What’s next for Bradley Cooper now that he’s proven himself a serious, Oscar-nominated actor? Maybe directing. Deadline reports Cooper is developing a remake of German film “Kokowaah” as a starring vehicle and is also considering stepping behind the camera. But if he doesn’t direct this one, he is on active lookout for another film to make his feature directorial debut on.

In “Kokowaah” (a working title if there ever was one), Cooper will play one of two men, carefree bachelor Henry or married father Trevor. The lives of the two men are unraveled when the shocking identity of the father of Trevor’s 8 year old daughter is revealed. We can see where this is going. German crossover star Til Schweiger played Henry in the original 2011 film, so it’s likely Cooper is eyeing the bachelor role as well.

But “Kokowaah” marks yet another in-development project Cooper has attached himself to that are probably nowhere near ready to roll camera yet. Culinary comedy “Chef”, murder mystery “The Man From Primrose Lane” and WWII thriller “Dark Invasion” are also part of his long term plans. In the short term, Cooper will reunite with “Silver Linings Playbook” director David O. Russell and co-star Jennifer Lawrence this spring on an untitled political thriller about the 1970s sting operation Abscam. Cooper and Lawrence have already shot and are awaiting the release of their second feature together, “Serena”, which should hit this year, while “The Hangover III” and Toronto hit “The Place Beyond the Pines” are also ready for their audiences.

“Silver Linings Playbook” reunion in full swing as Jennifer Lawrence joins Bradley Cooper in David O. Russell’s next

February 15, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

The Jennifer Lawrence-Bradley Cooper box set is well on its way to becoming a reality as Deadline reports the “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Serena” co-stars have cemented their third project together. Cooper had been cast in “Silver Linings” director David O. Russell’s next film nearly a year ago, and today Lawrence has signed on to join the reunion. The political thriller also stars Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner.

The film, originally called “American Bullshit” but now untitled, will follow the real life political drama Abscam, which was set up by the FBI in the 1970s and 80s. An FBI employee posed as a fictional Middle Eastern sheik named Kraim Abdul Rahman, who was videotaped taking meetings with government officials in which they agreed to take money for helping him gain asylum in the US, among other illegal activities. The investigation culminated in the conviction of a United States Senator and five members of the House of Representatives. Lawrence will play Bale’s wife.

With filming set for spring, Lawrence is about to have an even busier year as she wraps up “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” and prepares to film “X-Men: Days of Future Past.” She’s also attached to historical drama “The Ends of the Earth” and memoir adaptation “The Glass Castle”, which she’ll have to fit in between “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay” (a two-parter) and however many more X-Men sequels she’s contractually obligated to.

Bradley Cooper to hunt “The Man From Primrose Lane” in murder mystery thriller

January 29, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Ever-busy, ever-in-demand, newly minted Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper has no plans to slow down any time soon. He’s attached himself to yet another project, according to Deadline. He will produce and star in “The Man From Primrose Lane”, which will be based on James Renner’s novel of the same name.

Cooper will play David Neff in the Chad Feehan-adapted film, a true-crime writer who gets in over his head (don’t they always) when investigating the strange serial murder mystery of a suspect known as “the man with a thousand mittnes.” “The closer Neff comes to uncovering the true identity of the Man from Primrose Lane, the more he discovers his own dangerous connection to the series of crimes. He realizes in order to end the cycle of death and capture the killer he must look outside the parameters of what he believed to be true about time and space.” It sounds like this one is in the early stages, with Warner Bros developing the project as a vehicle for Cooper.

It’s a good thing since Cooper appears to be well booked up for the next 12 months or so. After Oscar season, where he’s nominated for Best Actor for his role in David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook”, he’ll go back to work with the director on an untitled political thriller co-starring Jeremy Renner, Amy Adams and Christian Bale. Then he’ll star in Cameron Crowe’s next feature opposite Emma Stone. He’ll juggle the two in between promotional duties for Derek Cianfrance’s “The Place Beyond the Pines”, “The Hangover 3″ and Susanna Bier’s “Serena”, all of which he filmed last year and will come out this year. In the latter half of 2013 he’s expected to film period crime drama “Bad Blood and Starlight”, and by early 2014, Cooper will be prepping a Broadway run of “The Elephant Man”, which he’s already played on stage.

Bradley Cooper to produce and star in true life WWI spy thriller “Dark Invasion”

January 14, 2013 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Newly minted Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper has attached himself to WWI true life spy thriller “Dark Invasion”, according to Deadline. Cooper, who has already exec produced “Limitless” and “Silver Linings Playbook”, will produce the film at Warner Bros under his 22nd & Indiana production company with John Lesher and his Le Grisbi banner.

The nonfiction book of the same name by Howard Blum will be released on September 11th of this year, and details German Secret Service members dispatched to attack the United States in 1915 while World War I wages in Europe. Cooper is attached to the role of Tom Tunney, the NYPD chief who’s tasked with establishing the team that will bring the German spies to justice.

Of course, with Cooper’s busy upcoming schedule, the project is still in the early developmental stages. After Oscar season, he’ll reunite with “Silver Linings Playbook” director David O. Russell on an untitled drama co-starring Christian Bale, Jeremy Renner and Amy Adams (previously working under the title “American Bullshit”). He’s wrapping up work now on the conclusion to “The Hangover” trilogy and is also set to play the lead in Cameron Crowe’s next feature, a reworked version of romantic comedy “Deep Tiki” opposite Emma Stone. Cooper will next be seen opposite Ryan Gosling in Derek Cianfrance’s “The Place Beyond the Pines” and opposite “Silver Linings” co-star Jennifer Lawrence in Susanna Bier’s “Serena.”

Bradley Cooper sought for Cameron Crowe’s next opposite Emma Stone

October 27, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Looks like there’s no rest for the highly in demand, as Deadline reports that despite a a rapidly filling up dance card, Bradley Cooper has landed yet another high profile role, and is likely to make a deal to join Emma Stone in Cameron Crowe’s next film, largely presumed to be the Hawaii-set “Deep Tiki.”

In development since 2008, the film at one time had Ben Stiller and Reese Witherspoon attached to the two lead roles, and will now see Cooper taking over Stiller’s role of a military consultant assigned to oversee a secret satellite launch on a Hawaii base. There, he begins to fall for an uptight colleague, presumably played by Stone, who seems a bit young, to be perfectly honest. Although, Crowe has reportedly rewritten the script and it could now differ greatly from what it used to be. Filming will being next spring.

Cooper has been garnering buzz for his performance in David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook” opposite Jennifer Lawrence, with many agreeing it’s a breakthrough moment for the actor previously best known for lighter fare like “The Hangover” and “Valentine’s Day.” His more recent and upcoming slate is certainly much more interesting and impressive, with recent turns opposite Ryan Gosling in multi-generational crime drama “The Place Beyond the Pines” and again opposite Lawrence in Susanna Bier’s “Serena.” He will re-team with “Silver Linings” director O’ Russell on the previously titled “American Bullshit” opposite Jeremy Renner and Amy Adams, and is attached to 1950s set crime drama “Bad Blood and Trouble.”

Sam Reid and Sarah Snook prepare for “The Second Coming” in Aussie thriller

October 5, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

British actor Sam Reid is set to play a “rebellious prophet” in indie Australian thriller “The Second Coming”, according to Deadline, and he will be joined by Aussie actress Sarah Snook.

Filming begins in early 2013 Down Under on the film based on the novel Andrew Masterson. Reid plays Joe Panther, “a psychotic, alcoholic, violent, substance-abusing heroin dealer. He is also, he believes, Joshua Ben Pantera, born two thousand years ago, the son of Mary and the Lord God Yaweh Himself, not dead yet, the crucified Jesus: still around, abandoned by his Father, abused by the world, and as pissed off as hell.” David Barker adapted the script and will direct, and Snook is set to play a friend of Panther’s.

Reid was last seen in Roland Emmerich’s Shakespearean thriller “Anonymous”, and recently wrapped up shooting on “The Railway Man” opposite Colin Firth and Jeremy Irvine, and “Serena” opposite Jennifer Lawernce and Bradley Cooper. He’s currently filming British piece “Belle”, and will segue to “The Second Coming” right after.

Snook was one of the final girls in contention for the role of Lisbeth Salander in David Fincher’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and recently wrapped up horror indie “Jessabelle” opposite Mark Webber. She also recently joined the cast of upcoming Australian apocalyptic thriller “These Final Hours.”

Bradley Cooper in talks for “Bad Blood and Trouble”; offered Clint Eastwood’s “A Star is Born” remake

August 16, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 2 Comments

Bradley Cooper is so in demand, his schedule for the next 18 months is already beginning to fill up. Today Variety reports the actor has entered negotiations to play the lead in 1950s set crime drama “Bad Blood and Trouble”, with shooting set for at least a year from now, in the latter half of 2013.

J Blakeson will direct the film whose plot is being kept under wraps for now. What is known is that Cooper will play a Miami police detective who falls in love with a married woman, whose husband has been targeted by criminals.

Meanwhile, THR reports Cooper is mulling over an offer for the male lead in Clint Eastwood’s remake of “A Star is Born”, which already has Beyonce set to be the young rising ingenue. Will Smith, Tom Cruise, Christian Bale and Leonardo Dicaprio have all already said no to the part.

Cooper rose to fame as the star of “The Hangover” franchise, which is gearing up to shoot the third and final installment in Los Angeles, and has become rather savvy at filling up his resume with interesting and prestigious projects. He heads to Toronto next month where he stars in two TIFF premieres, David O. Russell’s dramedy “Silver Linings Playbook” opposite Jennifer Lawrence and Derek Cianfrance’s multi-generational family crime drama “The Place Beyond the Pines” with Ryan Gosling and Dane DeHaan. He has wrapped up shooting on Susanna Bier’s “Serena” – reported to be screening footage at TIFF as well, and is attached to reunite with Russell on “American Bullshit” opposite Jeremy Renner and Amy Adams.

Jennifer Lawrence travels to “The Ends of the Earth” in controversial romantic drama

August 6, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting 1 Comment

Jennifer Lawrence, fresh off Susanna Bier’s “Serena”, will stay in 1920′s tycoon mode a little bit longer. Variety reports Lawrence is attached to star in “The Ends of the Earth”, a romantic drama based on the lives of real life oil tycoons Ernest and Lydie Marland.

Written by Chris Terrio, the film will follow Lawrence as Lydie, who was adopted by her aunt and uncle Virgina and Ernest, only to end up marrying Ernest after Virginia passes away. Lydie was 28, Ernest was 54. As his wife, she urged him “to raise workers’ wages and give them unpredecented access to medical care”, earning the nickname the “princess of the prairies.” A wealthy, educated and headstrong young woman, Lydie stays by Ernest’s side as he loses almost everything in the oil business but transitions into a successful politician, becoming the governor of Oklahoma in 1932. No director has been set yet, though production is tentatively scheduled for next summer.

Next summer is likely when Lawrence will finally have a free moment as she’ll be tied up with sequels “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” and “X-Men: Days of Future Past” well into the early part of 2013. She will next be seen in David O. Russell’s Oscar hopeful “Silver Linings Playbook” opposite Bradley Cooper, who also appears in “Serena” with her.

Romanian actress Ana Ularu to challenge Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper in “Serena”

May 12, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Romanian actress Ana Ularu has been cast in the pivotal role of Rachel Harmon in Susanna Bier’s “The Falling”, according to Romanian news site EVZ.ro. The film, formerly called “Serena”, stars Jennifer Lawrence in the titular role with Bradley Cooper as her husband and a supporting cast that includes Rhys Ifans, Toby Jones and David Dencik.

Lawrence and Cooper play Serena and George Pemberton, newlyweds who have eyes only for each other and go to deadly lengths to eliminate anyone or anything that gets in the way of their rising timber empire in 1920s North Carolina. Problem is, George had a little fling with young Rachel before he met Serena, and Rachel became pregnant. The Pembertons refuse to support Rachel in any way, and when Serena discovers she can’t have a child, Rachel’s life and the life of George’s illegitimate child come into immediate danger. British actor Sam Reid has also been cast as Vaughn, one of the Pembertons’ loggers who risks his own safety to befriend Rachel and her child.

Ularu, who speaks fluent English, French, Spanish and Italian, played the lead in Bogdan Apetri’s “Outbound,” for which she won Best Actress at various film festivals. She was recently named one of the Shooting Stars of 2012 at the annual Berlin Film Festival. Recent Shooting Star recipients have included Carey Mulligan, Andrea Riseborough and Alicia Vikander. Reid recently landed a lead role in Alex Proyas’ now dead “Paradise Lost” and was last seen in Roland Emmerich’s “Anonymous.”

Jennifer Lawrence in talks to star in adaptation of Jeanette Walls memoir “The Glass Castle”

April 23, 2012 | Posted by Linda Ge in Casting Leave a comment

Looks like Lionsgate is very pleased with their “Hunger Games” star Jennifer Lawrence, and are now eager to keep her undeniable talent within their family. Deadline reports Lionsgate is now in talks with Lawrence to star in an adaptation of gossip columnist Jeanne Walls’ memoir “The Glass Castle”, though the project still appears to be in the very early stages.

If everything comes together, Lawrence will take on yet another role of a young woman with ill-fit parental figures who must look after younger siblings. Walls describes in her memoir – which was on the New York Times Bestseller list for over 250 weeks – how she was raised along with three siblings by a brilliant but often intoxicated father and a mother who described herself as an “excitement addict”, moving their family from place to place, living like nomads and often camping in mountains. The children had to fend for themselves and eventually, find a way to leave their dysfunctional parents. Lionsgate has bought the rights and tapped Marti Noxon to adapt the screenplay.

Lawrence is one of the busiest young actresses working today after landing an Oscar nomination for “Winter’ Bone” in 2011, and will undoubtedly become busier as even more people discover just how talented she is. She is currently in Prague filming Susanna Bier’s “Serena” opposite Bradley Cooper, with whom she also recently completed work on David O. Russell’s “The Silver Linings Playbook.” She’ll go back to work on “The Hunger Games” when sequel “Catching Fire” begins filming in August, and then she’s committed to returning as Mystique to the sequel to “X-Men: First Class” in January. In September she can be seen in horror flick “House a the End of the Street.”

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