Colin Firth Says Coen Brothers Won't Direct 'Gambit' Remake

Joel and Ethan Coen are celebrating their first ever number one movie with Burn After Reading fighting back  challenges from The Family That Preys and Righteous Kill over the weekend. The success of this film, combined with their Oscar win and box office production from No Country for Old Men probably places the Coens among of the most in-demand filmmakers out there. But one movie they won't direct is their own screenplay for the remake of Gambit.No, this has nothing to do with X-Men. Sorry. Gambit was a heist movie from the 1960s starring Michael Caine and Shirley MacLaine. The new film would replace those stars with Colin Firth and Jennifer Aniston. But nobody wants to make it because the Coens refuse to direct it. Firth tells MTV his "casting" isn't accurate. "No! It’s a complete lie. It’s been on IMDB and just sitting there. The Coen brothers have written an absolutely brilliant script." Adds Firth, who would be great in the role, by the way, "[My Best Friend’s Wedding director] P.J. Hogan came on and Ben Kingsley was attached to it. Then it was Sandra Bullock attached and then Jennifer Aniston." "[The Coens] won’t direct it," he insists. "It had a producer attached to it and no director." I wonder why the Coens don't want to do this. Perhaps they remember their experience with The Ladykillers and want to steer clear of remakes. An even bigger mystery is why a director wouldn't want to take a crack at a Coen Brothers script. All the hard work is already done for you. I'm sure it will get made eventually, but it may be completely reconfigured by then.

Comments

[ligaya]

I just hope Jennifer Aniston isn't cast in the remake. She's fine in light rom-com roles which aren't too much of a stretch from Rachel. I'm sure she can grow as an actress, but play a part that Shirley McLaine - of The Apartment/Children’s Hour/Terms of Endearment fame - originated? Please let’s not make another shoddy remake – a la Talk About Charlie. Manchurian Candidate is an example of the rare remake done right. Casting is supremely important.

[Oz]

I totally endorse the previous comment. The original is perfectly cast and the same care is needed for a remake; Aniston is just not right for the part.