* So much for that. Last month Bradley Cooper had emerged as the guy to replace George Clooney in Steven Soderbergh's The Man From U.N.C.L.E., playing American spy Napoleon Solo. The Wrap now confirms that Cooper will not take the role, with no reason for the decision given. With his ridiculous schedule now, there's probably no way Cooper could slot the film in. There are still a ton of other options that have been mentioned before who may still be available, such as Jude Law and Ryan Reynolds, so don't be surprised if one of them gets it. Joel Edgerton(Warrior) is still in talks to play Russian agent, Ilya Kuryakin. Cooper is in the process of filming David O. Russell's The Silver Linings Playbook, and will then head to the extensive shoot for Paradise Lost.
* Jake Abel(I Am Number Four) has emerged as the frontrunner for one of the male leads in The Host, Andrew Niccol's adaptation of the novel by Twilight scribe Melissa Rosenberg. If signed, Abel would play Ian, one of the more menacing human rebels who first brutalizes Wanderer(Saoirse Ronan) before falling in love with her. The story takes place in a future where alien "souls" inhabit the bodies of humans, with one such soul joining with that of a young woman named Melanie Stryder. Ronan will play both Mel and Wanderer. Liam Hemsworth, Kit Harington, Jai Courtney, and Max Irons are still in the running to play Melaniey's brother, Jared. The Host will hit theaters on March 29th 2013. [Deadline]
* Ok, so that didn't last long. Just last month it was reported that Mickey Rourke wouldn't be back for The Expendables 2, in favor of starring in Seven Psychopaths from In Bruges director Martin McDonagh. Well yesterday Rourke bailed on the film, calling McDonagh a "jerkoff". So I'm guessing the two won't be going out for drinks anytime soon. Still, the film pushes ahead, with Woody Harrelson coming aboard to take the role vacated by Rourke. I consider that an upgrade. Also joining the crew are Tom Waits(The Book of Eli) and the sexy Olga Kurylenko(Quantum of Solace). They'll join the already impressive cast featuring Sam Rockwell, Colin Farrell, and Christopher Walken, in the story about a struggling writer who gets caught up in the dognapping schemes of his two friends, who steal the beloved pooch of a violent gangster. [Deadline]
