The combination of David O. Russell and Christian Bale has already proven to be a success, with Bale earning a Best Supporting Oscar for The Fighter, and Russell finding what was far and away the biggest hit of his career. So it made sense for the two to work together again, with last month word breaking out that Bale would join Russell's American Bullshit, based on a Black List script by Eric Warren Singer(The International). Now it appears that Russell not only has Bale attached to the film, but his most recent leading guy in Bradley Cooper.
Just recently wrapping The Silver Linings Playbook for Russell, Cooper is said to be part of the package being shopped around to sell the film, with producing goddess Megan Ellison in talks to finance. The film centers on the ABSCAM FBI sting operation of the 1970s and 80s, run by ex-con artist Melvin Weinberg, and designed to root out corruption in Congress. Weinberg set up a dummy corporation which he used to lure in government officials, leading to the conviction of one US Senator, and five House representatives.
Hopefully this will be next on Russell's list, as it sounds like the most interesting of everything he's considering. Could we looking at another Oscar contender? [Deadline]
