Robert Downey Jr. spent a lot of time looking for an actor to play his father in the upcoming David Dobkin film The Judge. Late last year the Iron Man star was trying hard to get Jack Nicholson to join, but when those plans fell through they signed Robert Duvall for the part. The casting news has been rolling in since, with it just being reported earlier today that Vincent D'onofrio has joined the production, and now we have yet another report to share.
Billy Bob Thornton, who just recently worked with Duvall on his directorial effort Jayne Mansfield's Car, is now in talks to play one of the central antagonists in the upcoming film, according to Variety. Based on an original script by Nick Schenk that was rewritten by Bill Dubuque, The Judge tells the story of a hot-shot lawyer (Downey Jr.) who returns to his hometown after being away for decades to attend his mother's funeral. When he arrives, however, he discovers that his estranged father, the local judge, is suspected of killing her. As the lawyer works to prove his dad's innocence, the two finally get to bond like they never got to when they were younger. Should he sign on, Thornton will be playing "the special prosecutor brought in to try Duvall’s character."
Thornton recently completed production on two films, including the Grizzly Bear thriller Red Machine; and the JFK assassination drama Parkland. He is also attached to star in the baseball comedy Three Nights, which is still in pre-production.
