The upcoming Natalie Portman western Jane Got A Gun hit hard times when director Lynne Ramsay dropped off of the project on what should have been the first day of production. Following her was Jude Law, who had signed on to the movie simply for the chance to work with Ramsay, and the production had to scramble to find replacements. When the dust cleared it seemed like everything was going to be okay, however. Warrior filmmaker Gavin O'Connor took over as director, and Bradley Cooper took Law's place on the cast list. But this roller coaster ride isn't over yet.
Deadline says that Cooper has been forced to abandon his role in Jane Got A Gun - for reasons completely separate from the production. The site says that the terrorist bombings in Boston delayed the production schedule of David O. Russell's American Hustle, which Cooper has been filming the last few weeks. Because of the Oscar nominated star's commitment to that film, he won't be available for the western.
Cooper was supposed to play the movie's main villain - the leader of a gang who comes to kill Natalie Portman's character's estranged husband(Noah Emmerich). In order to protect herself, she enlists the help of a former lover (Joel Edgerton). The production is now back to looking at its shortlist of actors that can take over the part, a list that includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Tobey Maguire, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Tom Hiddleston.
At this stage of the game, what can you really say? Perhaps somebody is filming a documentary behind the scenes and they can make their very own Lost in La Mancha.
