@ThePlaylist: Queen of the Desert Casting Rumour *Update*
I was hoping that Cassian Elwes was talking more along the lines of Clive Owen when he tweeted they were going to unleash casting news re Jude’s replacement. But say it ain’t so because it’s difficult enough that I will have to sit through a Naomi film (for our regulars she’s Nicole Kidman v2 in my eyes), but having Franco in a film instead of Jude. Just no. That might be more than I can take. I’m not being bitchy it’s just there are some actors that make me never want to watch a film and Franco is one of them. According to The Playlist:
Greenlight power is everything, and it often requires a top-shelf or name-brand cast to light the fuse. Werner Herzog seemingly nailed it with the power trio of Robert Pattinson, Naomi Watts and Jude Law for his would-be next narrative feature, “Queen of the Desert” — the true story of Gertrude Bell (Watts), the traveler, writer, archaeologist, explorer, cartographer, and political attaché for the British Empire at the dawn of the twentieth century.
So this should be more than enough, no? But with what one assumes could be expensive location shoots in far off locations outside the U.S., “Queen of the Desert” hasn’t really moved forward. In fact, it seemed very up in the air in the last few months. Watts herself suggested the movie was on hold and Jude Law told us in a recent interview that he was likely unable to participate likely because his scheduling window had closed.
And that’s exactly the case for Law. Deadline reports, while far from a done deal, James Franco is currently under consideration and in talks to replace the “Sherlock Holmes” sidekick. There’s still no word on who he would play, but the trade says if they can manage Franco’s schedule and get him on board, it will likely get the picture back on track. Ridley Scott could have derailed the whole thing if he got to his Gertrude Bell project with Angelina Jolie first, but he seems preoccupied with his biblical Moses epic that will star Christian Bale.
Fingers crossed for Herzog, this is one we’ve been looking forward to for years when he first unveiled it to us.”
I’ll guess we will find out soon enough.
Update:Â FilmSchoolRejects shed some more light:
“Deadline’s latest report on the next career move for James Franco doesn’t sound like anything that’s close to being a done deal, or maybe even likely to happen, but it’s just too fun a possibility not to report on anyway. According to their sources, Werner Herzog’s Gertrude Bell biopic, Queen of the Desert, is currently trying to convince Franco to come on board to fill the role that Jude Law abandoned to go play Henry V.
The film has sort of stalled out since Law’s departure, and it’s thought that a star of Franco’s magnitude coming on board would get things back on track. Also, this would make for a good pairing simply because Herzog and Franco are both completely crazy. The problem is, Franco is the manic sort of crazy, so he has his fingers in a lot of artistic pies, and nobody is sure if they’re going to be able to come up with a schedule that works. Stay tuned.”
13 comments on “@ThePlaylist: Queen of the Desert Casting Rumour *Update*”
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Free download - Click on photo below. Thanks to Suze for putting together.
Jules
Thanks M! LOL Kidman v2 🙂 if I’m being completely honest, just as you were holding out for Clive Owen, I’ve been hoping against hope for Christian Bale to sign on for another Herzog adventure. 😉 honestly if he ever works with Rob I may not survive LOL 😀
Like you say, I guess we have to wait and see if anything to this.
Jules
Dammit, I meant to say LMAO at your gif choice for the post. Bwhahahahaha that’s brilliant 🙂
Maria
LOL @Jules that really is a true reflection of my reaction when I read the article.
I would much have preferred Christian as well or Colin Firth.
Michelle
LOL your gif is absolutely perfect Maria, my reaction exactly. James Franco instead of Jude Law, surely that’s gotta be a joke. PLEASE say it ain’t so.
Am so with you there girls, Christian or Colin – now THEY would be AWESOME!
Yep, we’ll just have to wait & see what happens. Hoping we receive some better news soon. Thanks for the update Maria.
Maria
It’s hard for me to get excited about this news – next we will hear that Gwynnie has replaced Naomi *shudders*.
The only news that will make deal with this is if we get Rob signing on for Joaquin’s next Paul Thomas Anderson film “Inherent Vice”. What? I can dream right.
Sue
On a purely personal note, all I can add is that I hope Rob NEVER works with Christian Bale, EVER!!! I mean, seriously, if Jules weren’t to survive because of them teaming up, who would replace her!!!!????? *wink*
Maria
Very good point @Sue very good point.
Carmel
James Franco? I think I am asleep already.
Having said that, I was so upset when Sean Penn was replaced in W4E, yet we all know how wonderful Christoph was. I’ll keep an open mind and put my trust in Rob’s choice of quality directors making an appropriate choice.
Unless it is Christian Bale.
Jules
@Sue omg LOL!! I was about to say oh noooo please don’t be hating on Christian until I read all of your comment hahaha
OH! Colin Firth would be an amazing choice….love that Maria! 🙂
Silvie
Love the gif, that’s exactly how I felt. WHAT? Sorry not a fan of JF but will have to trust Rob.
I would also love Mission B to get started.
Maria
@Carmel – he’s just “circling” – hopefully it’s a semi circle *oops*.
Sanguine
LOL! The .gif is perfect!! But Franco? ugh… I guess it could be worse.
Thank you for the info, Maria!!
stormy
Let’s hope Franco is VERY VERY busy and unable to fit QOTD into his schedule. OTOH Colin Firth is the man.