Ok, as much as I'm starting to despise the "offer" story, the "wishlist" story is a million times worse. If asked any studio head right now who they'd pick to star in their movie if scheduling and salary weren't an issue, the response would be the same if the film was The Expendables or All The Pretty Horses. There are very few exceptions, so when I hear names like Michael Fassbender, Chris Pine, Christian Bale, and Leonardo DiCaprio wishlisted for Steven Soderbergh's remake of 60s spy spoof, The Man From U.N.C.L.E, it makes me go "zzzzzzzzzzzzz....".
ThePlaylist has apparently discovered the rest of the desired names for the film, which recently we learned had Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Alexander Skarsgard, and Ryan Gosling wanted for the co-lead role of Russian spy Illya Kuryakin. This followed on the footsteps of George Clooney having to bow out due to a bad back, with the actor set to play the other lead of American agent Napoleon Solo. With Clooney's A-list power out of the picture, the need to cast a bigger star in the Kuryakin role increased. Other names include, apparently for both lead parts, Robert Pattinson, Russell Crowe, Ryan Reynolds, Jon Hamm, and Bradley Cooper. I'm shocked, shocked I tell you!! Soderbergh was said to also have been looking at frequent collaborator Matt Damon, but he'll actually be shooting his directorial debut, Father Daughter Time: A Tale of Armed Robbery and Eskimo Kisses, at that same point. Jude Law is a possibility as well, having just starred in Soderbergh's Contagion.What, no Jeremy Renner?
The only thing that comes as any sort of surprise is the news that Soderbergh spoke to rising star Joel Kinnaman(The Killing, Snabba Cash) for the Kuyakin role. He apparently approached him during Comic-Con, but it's unclear if he remains a contender. Kinnaman may not be known to many right now, but his profile is set to get a boost with roles in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and the Russia set alien invasion flick, The Darkest Hour. If Warner Brothers is planning on this becoming a franchise, which I'm sure they are, then Kinnaman may be a solid "buy low" option right now. Yes, I'm using fantasy football terminology for Hollywood casting now. The story says Soderbergh and writer Scott Z. Burns are already mapping out sequels, which since Soderbergh is "retiring" he won't be directing but producing. We'll see about that.
The film already has a February 2012 date set for production kick off, so expect the major casting to get wrapped up in the next few weeks if not sooner.
