2/24/2012

Brad Pitt, Javier Bardem, and Jeremy Renner circling Cormac McCarthy scripted 'The Counselor'

If this is how things are going to go for Cormac McCarthy, then we might see a lot more original screenplays from the acclaimed author. His script for The Counselor, which is being described as similar to his No Country for Old Men, has had the easiest path to production than anything I've ever seen. Not only was it snapped up by producers in record time, but soon after Ridley Scott took over as director and put it at the top of his to-do list. As for who would star? Only the hottest actor in Hollywood right now, one Mr. Michael Fassbender. 

And it's about to get even better. It had been reported that a number of high profile actors were lining up to be a part of it, and boy was that not an exaggeration. Deadline reports that Javier Bardem, Brad Pitt, and Jeremy Renner are all circling the same role, described as the story's villain Who gets the job will likely depend on scheduling for all three. Renner has a mountain of stuff coming up, and Bardem may as well if The Dark Tower stars align. The report notes Pitt's schedule specifically, although that's odd considering the only film he has locked down is an adaptation of Twelve Years a Slave, which in a nice twist of fate also features Fassbender.

A May start date is being planned for the film, which follows a respected lawyer who makes the mistake of getting into the drug trade.  A couple of crucial female roles need to be filled as well, so we'll probably hear something on that soon.