It was impressive how fast Switch, the upcoming prequel to Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown, was moving through development earlier this year. In February it was revealed that an adaptation of the Elmore Leonard book was in development and that John Hawkes and Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) had been cast to play younger versions of Louis Gara and Ordell Robbie, the characters played by Robert De Niro and Samuel L. Jackson in the 1997 movie. It kept going on the fast track for a couple more weeks as it was reported that Ty Burrell, Jennifer Aniston and Dennis Quaid were up for parts and then...nothing. We haven't reported specifically about the project since February 16th - but now it looks like it's picking up steam again.
Isla Fisher is now negotiating for a role in Switch, according to Variety. The actress, who voices a character in the upcoming DreamWorks Animation film Rise of the Guardians, will be playing the role of Melanie, the same character Bridget Fonda played in Jackie Brown. It's a strange casting choice given that the story of this film is set 15 years before the events of Tarantino's film and yet Fisher is actually older that Fonda was at the time that movie was being shot. Do you think Fisher can pass for a 19 year old?
The movie is been written and directed by Dan Schechter and sees Ordell and Louis become involved in a plot to kidnap a real estate developer's wife (Aniston). When the husband refuses to pay, however, the wife and the criminals devise a plan to get revenge. Much like how the character was in Jackie Brown, Melanie will be a side character in Switch who tries to use the criminal dealings around her to her advantage. Burrell is still attached to play "a witness to Aniston's kidnapping" who has long been in love with her from a far, but Quaid has been forced out of the project due to his committments to his new television series Vegas.
Production on the movie is looking to start up in February.
