Spielberg Won't Direct 'Harvey' After All

I wonder what all of this means for Steven Spielberg's next couple of years. He was looking for a project after this summer, was rumored for the spy movie Matt Helm, but instead hustled quickly to call dibs on a remake (or a new adaptation of the play) of Harvey. But Variety now says Spielberg is not directing that film, which was scheduled to go into production early next year. Tom Hanks was linked to the role, but he passed, and then the focus shifted to Robert Downey, Jr. In the end, though, Spielberg couldn't find someone he was happy with as Elwood P. Dowd, and it's tough to embody a role made famous by James Stewart, so I don't find fault with Hanks or Downey not signing up for this. So Harvey is dead for now; Variety mentions Fox could "re-approach" the director and Downey down the line, while insisting the two were never exactly on the same page about what the film should be. The abandonment of this project means Spielberg won't have a movie in theaters until Tintin - two years away - unless he presses something else into production fairly soon. Fortunately for him, he can work quickly. Remember, he made War of the Worlds and Munich in a total of 10 months. However, if he doesn't find something between now and Tintin, it will be the second-longest directorial layoff of his career. Could this finally open the door for Lincoln? Even though Robert Redford is directing The Conspirators, dealing with the aftermath of the president's assassination, Spielberg has been slowly cooking the Honest Abe bio-pic for a long time, with Liam Neeson just waiting for the phone call to start shooting. Based on everything else, I think this is the film Spielberg is the most ready to undertake, but that doesn't mean he's as ready as he needs to be. Why there's been a delay of literally two years on this one, I have no clue. However, unless something else falls from the sky, if Spielberg wants to direct in 2010, I think that would be the one he'd size up.

Comments

[SEAN]

I dont think its more about he couldnt find the right person for the role but more about that I dont necessarily see what audience this would target...

I mean of course the Speilberg loyal fans will show and the person it stars fans will go but this type of film or project doesnt seem like it has mass apeal like War of the Worlds did and of course Munich,

Speilberg is not necessarily a small time director with little things going on, he makes big films with big stars and big blockbusters, and from the start I didnt think this was going to work...my intitial reaction was really? I mean why? Its not going to make the multi millions his films usually make...

anyone agree