Robert Downey Jr. had a very specific vision of who he wanted to play his father in the upcoming dramedy The Judge. Back in November of last year we learned that the Iron Man star was hoping that Jack Nicholson would be willing to the take the part, which would see him playing the eponymous character. Unfortunately Downey Jr. didn't get his wish, but the project has landed another Oscar winner instead.
The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Robert Duvall is now attached to star in The Judge, which is being directed by David Dobkin. The story, which was originally scripted by Nick Schenk and recently rewritten by Bill Dubuque, follows a hot-shot lawyer (Downey Jr.) who, after a long time away, returns home after the sudden death of his mother. When he arrives, however, he is shocked to learn that his estranged father (Duvall) is suspected of murdering her. While looking for a way to clear the judges name, the two finally are able to connect. The trade says that Warner Bros. did go after Nicholson at Downey Jr.'s behest, but he ultimately turned it down.
At the end of last year Duvall was seen starring alongside Tom Cruise in the Lee Child adaptation Jack Reacher, and THR notes that he recently wrapped on an indie project titled A Night In Old Mexico. Duvall stars alongside Jeremy Irvine, Angie Cepeda, and Luis Tosar, and while it hasn't found a distributor yet presumably it will be going the festival route once its completed.
