[becozy]

"in negotiations" so I'm adding to 'rumors' Confirmed!
Thanks scotsmanstuart for the heads-up!


Gerard Butler on 'Motor City' assembly line


'300' thesp in talks for lead in Albert Hughes' action pic
By Jeff Sneider
After going through a revolving door of leading men, Warner Bros. and Dark Castle are now negotiating with "300" star Gerard Butler to topline Albert Hughes' action pic "Motor City." Dominic Cooper was originally slated to star before scheduling conflicts forced producers to move on to Jake Gyllenhaal, who had similar issues, prompting producers to turn to Butler.

If a deal makes, Butler would play a felon who, after being released from prison, begins tracking down the men who framed him. Amber Heard and Gary Oldman are already on board to co-star in the Chad St. John-scripted pic.

Joel Silver is producing through his Dark Castle shingle along with Andrew Rona. Ethan Erwin and Doug Urbanski are exec producing.

Butler, who next stars in Millennium Films' "Playing the Field," recently signed on to star in the company's White House-set action pic "Olympus." He's repped by CAA and Alan Siegel Entertainment.

This post has been edited by becozy: 19 April 2012 - 08:19 PM
Reason for edit: role confirmed

[Rendita]

Wouldn't it be great for Gerry to work with Gary Oldman?

That is something I would really look forward to seeing.

Ren

[GBPhanatic]

Gerry and Gary on the big screen together! I hope he takes this one! Sounds like a great plot and I know Gerry and Gary will have great chemistry!

My fingers are crossed for this one!

Thanks, Barb and Stu!

Delene

[Lady Ski Bum]

When is he going to have the time? Sounds great and the more films with nationwide distribution the better.

[shirsan]

He worked with Joel Silver on Phantom. How great to see him and Gary in the same film.
I know he wants to stay busy, but I hope he doesn't overdo. He really does need to sleep
sometime.
Love him absolutely,
Sandy

[GBPhanatic]

Isn't this the way it goes, though? When it rains, it pours!

Delene

[GBPhanatic]

Quote

If a deal makes, Butler would play a felon who, after being released from prison, begins tracking down the men who framed him.

I read a bit of the plot and I'm not sure this would be Gerry's role. The felon is framed and arrested in 1970 and is released thirty years later. I suspect this would be Oldman's part. I could be wrong but if it's the "Motor City" I was reading about, the lead character would have to be an older man.

Delene

[becozy]

Exceprt from an interview with Chad St. John from April 2010 at the ScriptShadow blog:

SS: You also wrote a script called "Motor City" that is 75 pages and has almost no dialogue. Can you tell us why you decided to write that script and why you think it was received so well. Also, what's the status on the project?

CSJ: Honestly, it wasn't my idea. Greg Silverman over at Warner Bros., one all around bad arse dude, tossed that one my way. After they bought DAYS and I had rewritten it based on their notes, Greg offered me a two script blind deal. I was definitely salivating for the chance, but I really wasn't keen on the blind aspect of it. I wanted to have at least one of the scripts spelled out before I said yes. I thought it was crucial to follow DAYS with something just as unique. So, Greg throws this idea at me. Then, he says the magic words…"and there's no dialogue." A "silent" revenge movie.

I said yes before he finished the sentence. The artist in me leapt at the chance. Beside, when the hell is another Exec this far up the food chain in a studio going to ask me to write a "silent" movie? I was all over it. It was audacious and ballsy. Of course, then I spent a week banging my head into a desk in front of my computer thinking, "What the hell have I done?"

Why was it received so well? I was just humbled that it was. Truly. I still am. I think part of it is definitely that it was just so ballsy and different. Maybe it was a reminder that a script doesn't need to have an explosion a minute. Or, even dialogue. You'll have to ask all those cats who like it. I just aim for "Don't Suck".

I rewrote it for Dark Castle. And, yes, added dialogue. I'm really happy with how it's coming along. We still go back and forth as to which version is the right one to get made. I suspect it might be a version that combines the no dialogue and dialogue versions. We'll see.

---

There's also a 'first draft' review of the script at Sheridan Reviews: Motor City from 2009...

who knows how the script has changed, or if Gerry will actually do the film, but it is fun to take a 'behind-the-scenes' look at the script!

[Texas gramma]

becozy, on 01 April 2012 - 08:27 PM, said:

Exceprt from an interview with Chad St. John from April 2010 at the ScriptShadow blog:

SS: You also wrote a script called "Motor City" that is 75 pages and has almost no dialogue. Can you tell us why you decided to write that script and why you think it was received so well. Also, what's the status on the project?

CSJ: Honestly, it wasn't my idea. Greg Silverman over at Warner Bros., one all around bad arse dude, tossed that one my way. After they bought DAYS and I had rewritten it based on their notes, Greg offered me a two script blind deal. I was definitely salivating for the chance, but I really wasn't keen on the blind aspect of it. I wanted to have at least one of the scripts spelled out before I said yes. I thought it was crucial to follow DAYS with something just as unique. So, Greg throws this idea at me. Then, he says the magic words…"and there's no dialogue." A "silent" revenge movie.

I said yes before he finished the sentence. The artist in me leapt at the chance. Beside, when the hell is another Exec this far up the food chain in a studio going to ask me to write a "silent" movie? I was all over it. It was audacious and ballsy. Of course, then I spent a week banging my head into a desk in front of my computer thinking, "What the hell have I done?"

Why was it received so well? I was just humbled that it was. Truly. I still am. I think part of it is definitely that it was just so ballsy and different. Maybe it was a reminder that a script doesn't need to have an explosion a minute. Or, even dialogue. You'll have to ask all those cats who like it. I just aim for "Don't Suck".

I rewrote it for Dark Castle. And, yes, added dialogue. I'm really happy with how it's coming along. We still go back and forth as to which version is the right one to get made. I suspect it might be a version that combines the no dialogue and dialogue versions. We'll see.

---

There's also a 'first draft' review of the script at Sheridan Reviews: Motor City from 2009...

who knows how the script has changed, or if Gerry will actually do the film, but it is fun to take a 'behind-the-scenes' look at the script!

Say WHAT???? No dialog? That's just WRONG when you have an actor with Gerry's voice! Hmmmm, you know, that's the kind of challenge Gerry would probably love!

Suzie

[GBPhanatic]

No lines to memorize? No sexy voice to make love to our ears! No worrys about Scottish sounding words leaking out? I would miss all of that! But Gerry could fine tune his exquisite abilities to express intense emotion through facial expressions and body language.

But it definitely does sound like he would consider it a challenge, especially since we all know how much he loves to talk! They all better be prepared for the non-stop jokes, story telling and jabbering that's going to take place inbetween takes on this one!

Delene

[shirsan]

Gerry can say more with his eyes than anyone else can with their voice.
I'd love to see this.
Love him absolutely,
Sandy

[Rendita]

shirsan, on 02 April 2012 - 06:26 PM, said:

Gerry can say more with his eyes than anyone else can with their voice.
I'd love to see this.
Love him absolutely,
Sandy

I have to agree Sandy.

Gerry has the most expressive eyes I've ever seen.

I think this could be a very exciting project for him.

Ren

[Erik's Ebony Eyes]

Rendita, on 29 March 2012 - 05:20 PM, said:

Wouldn't it be great for Gerry to work with Gary Oldman?

Ren

Absolutely!!!!!!!

Oldman is an awesome and top notch actor!!!

Erik's Ebony Eyes

[ladyfran]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! Not a silent movie!!!!! It'll be a dud I just know it and it won't play in all theaters.....PLEASE< DIALOGUE!


Frannie

[shirsan]

I love his voice too. But those eyes.
I'd go see it either way. If Gerry is in
it, I'm in the theater,
Love him absolutely,
Sandy

[Karin*]

I don´t think that Gerry signing to a silent movie is a good idea at the moment, given that "The Artist" won the best picture prize at the Academy Awards 2012.


I think Gerry would absolutely love it as a challenge, but generally other films with such a characteristic would appear to be following "The Artist" wavelengh too obviously, don´t you think? Gerry´s partners may notice it too, and advise him correctly. Guess he´s been very careful with his latest film choices... let´s see what happens.


Love from Brazil,
Karin

[becozy]

Adding a category in Movies, and moving this from Rumors, since this is 'confirmed' per Dr. Em's post today: Filming Information and Clarification - April 19, 2012

[AbandonThought]

Well, the interviewer stated that it's a 75 page script with ALMOST no dialogue. The idea was a sort of "silent" movie, but I expect they've added in a bit. Action movies are light on the dialogue in general, but an action movie wouldn't work as a pure "silent" movie. I'm sure that the producers realize this. We've seen stoic or completely silent characters in other action movies and never blinked an eye (anyone remember Sphinx from Gone in 60 Seconds?).

I think this sounds like an awesome project. Gerry needs to do more action movies. He's gotten bogged down in two types of movies lately that haven't brought him much success: 1) light-hearted romantic comedies that not even Gerry takes seriously, and 2) heavy dramas seeking critical acclaim that they don't get. I crave a return to good ol' action Gerry, and the round of films he's signed on to and/or considering seems to show that's where he's leaning as well.

Steph

[Midnight Diva]

Texas gramma, on 02 April 2012 - 03:59 PM, said:

becozy, on 01 April 2012 - 08:27 PM, said:

Exceprt from an interview with Chad St. John from April 2010 at the ScriptShadow blog:

SS: You also wrote a script called "Motor City" that is 75 pages and has almost no dialogue. Can you tell us why you decided to write that script and why you think it was received so well. Also, what's the status on the project?

CSJ: Honestly, it wasn't my idea. Greg Silverman over at Warner Bros., one all around bad arse dude, tossed that one my way. After they bought DAYS and I had rewritten it based on their notes, Greg offered me a two script blind deal. I was definitely salivating for the chance, but I really wasn't keen on the blind aspect of it. I wanted to have at least one of the scripts spelled out before I said yes. I thought it was crucial to follow DAYS with something just as unique. So, Greg throws this idea at me. Then, he says the magic words…"and there's no dialogue." A "silent" revenge movie.

I said yes before he finished the sentence. The artist in me leapt at the chance. Beside, when the hell is another Exec this far up the food chain in a studio going to ask me to write a "silent" movie? I was all over it. It was audacious and ballsy. Of course, then I spent a week banging my head into a desk in front of my computer thinking, "What the hell have I done?"

Why was it received so well? I was just humbled that it was. Truly. I still am. I think part of it is definitely that it was just so ballsy and different. Maybe it was a reminder that a script doesn't need to have an explosion a minute. Or, even dialogue. You'll have to ask all those cats who like it. I just aim for "Don't Suck".

I rewrote it for Dark Castle. And, yes, added dialogue. I'm really happy with how it's coming along. We still go back and forth as to which version is the right one to get made. I suspect it might be a version that combines the no dialogue and dialogue versions. We'll see.

---

There's also a 'first draft' review of the script at Sheridan Reviews: Motor City from 2009...

who knows how the script has changed, or if Gerry will actually do the film, but it is fun to take a 'behind-the-scenes' look at the script!

Say WHAT???? No dialog? That's just WRONG when you have an actor with Gerry's voice! Hmmmm, you know, that's the kind of challenge Gerry would probably love!

Suzie

His voice would surely misses but those yes can speak a thousand words!!!

His voice would surely be missed but those eyes can speak a thousand words!!!!!

Oops!! I said it twice!!! Lol

This post has been edited by Midnight Diva: 12 May 2012 - 01:46 AM