For Disney, postponing Maleficent may be more than just an accommodation to allow its two leads to take on other roles since London will be in the grip of Olympics fever in late July and they may want to avoid being affected by the crush. And with a 2014 release date, they can easily afford to be flexible. The Counselor was originally slated to start May 1 and two months should be enough time for Angelina and perhaps most of the film to finish shooting. Michael Fassbender has a supporting role in 12 Years a Slave (where Brad has a cameo) that is also supposed to start in July so Ridley Scott has two big reasons to move quickly.
If Scott was eying Angelina for a mere cameo as stated in the Vulture article, there wouldn't be any need for prolonged discussions between them. She simply needs to decide whether or not she wants to do it since she can easily squeeze in a few days' work for a brief appearance. And cameos are usually a surprise -- not something to be "leaked" and discussed.
Just as Universal was interested in Besson's film when there was the possibility that she might star in it, the Fox insider who spoke to Vulture hinted that the company's participation may be tied to her name appearing above the title -- which isn't normally done for small roles or cameos. But what really makes me think they're discussing more than a small role is the fact that the lead female character, Malkina, fits her like a glove. So much so that I can imagine Scott dream casting her for the part as he read the script and Corman McCarthy possibly using her as his inspiration. The role is smaller than Fassbender's but it's still a key lead character and will require a major commitment from her -- hence (I believe) the reason for more involved discussions.
This is also the closest Brad and Angelina have come to being in the same film despite years of trying and Angelina said as recently as the Oscars that they "have an idea". But I would be very surprised if Brad was being eyed to play Reiner, Malkina's boyfriend, since Angelina has said they are wary of playing a couple onscreen and he doesn't seem like a good fit for the role. Having them in the same film but not the main leads would also be tricky to manage as it would be next to impossible to keep them from eclipsing Fassbender.
I would be very excited to see Angelina take the part. It is a meaty role that may be the best match for her since Gia. Based on the review that appeared in Script Shadow, it's easy to see why she would be attracted to the material with its allusion to revenge for violence against women. This has the potential to be her first Oscar Best Picture-nominated film and possibly her first Best Actress win.
Sasha Stone
Angelina Jolie attached, or "in talks" to star in The Counselor, Ridley Scott's Cormac McCarthy pic. Ol' Ridley is ratcheting it up a notch.
Elle Fanning going with 'God Help the Girl'
Olly Alexander also in talks for Stuart Murdoch musical
FanningFollowing a long casting search that spanned the globe, "Super 8" star Elle Fanning and "Enter the Void" thesp Olly Alexander are in negotiations to topline "God Help the Girl," a Glasgow-set musical written and directed by Stuart Murdoch, the lead singer of Belle and Sebastian.Barry Mendel is producing through his Barry Mendel Prods. banner. Carole Sheridan of Glasgow-based Singer Films is also producing with Chris Curling and Phil Robertson of London-based Zephyr Films.
Project began in late 2003 when Murdoch started writing a few songs that had a 'girl group' sound. The songs led to the concept album "God Help the Girl," which was released in 2009 as a precursor to the film. Catherine Ireton sang the 'part' of Eve, the pic's main character, who has yet to be cast.
Alexander will play James, a cynical guitarist who accompanies Eve's singing and becomes a mentor to Cass (Fanning), an American teen who tags alongside the duo as she learns to play the guitar.
Producers raised more than $100,000 in financing on Kickstarter, and London-based sales agent HanWay Films will handle international sales when it begins shopping the project at Cannes. Production is skedded to start in Glasgow in June, just weeks before Fanning shoots Disney's "Maleficent" with Angelina Jolie.
Fanning, who was last seen in Cameron Crowe's "We Bought a Zoo," recently wrapped Sally Potter's "Bomb," which co-stars Annette Bening and Christina Hendricks.
Alexander is an up-and-coming Brit thesp who currently stars opposite Greta Gerwig in the indie "The Dish & the Spoon," which he and Gerwig both had a hand in writing. His other feature credits include Jane Campion's "Bright Star," Gaspar Noe's "Enter the Void" and the 20th Century Fox comedy "Gulliver's Travels."
WME reps Alexander and Fanning, who is also repped by One Talent Management.
Contact Jeff Sneider at
jeff.sneider@variety.com
