Without Jolie, Will 'Gravity' Fall Back to Earth?

If you need a lot of money to make a movie, you better have a big star. But big stars also cost money. And that's the problem, it appears, with Gravity. It's a 3-D sci-fi thing Warner Bros. is developing with director Alfonso Cuaron, who, if given a similar leash to the one this studio gave Christopher Nolan, would be a much bigger name, because he's an exceptional filmmaker. Back to the problem: Although the film does have Robert Downey, Jr. on board, it used to also have Angelina Jolie. She's a bigger star, no offense to Downey. Deadline says because hers is the bigger role - "the Gravity heroine is the only person onscreen for a large part of the movie," much like Cast Away or Buried - the movie took a major hit when she left. The question is simple: Who else? There have been other names mentioned, and $80 million is not a tremendous pile of cash for the world's top movie studio, but Warners didn't get that way by throwing away money. Among the women who have tested for the role or have been approached are Natalie Portman, Sandra Bullock, Sienna Miller, Scarlett Johansson, Olivia Wilde, Blake Lively, Carey Mulligan, Marion Cotillard, Rebecca Hall, and Abbie Cornish. Oh, and Angelina Jolie, again. Do you see the problem there? Sandra Bullock is the only legitimate opening weekend draw on the list, and even then, it's only thanks to 2009, because for about a decade before that, Bullock was not a sure thing. And for this role, she's probably all wrong. We could go through the list and I could again list my many affections for Olivia Wilde, but the truth is, if any of us had $80 million to spend on this movie, we probably wouldn't trust it to any of them. Maybe Portman, but again, not really her thing, I don't believe. And complicating matters is WB's hefty mistrust of female movie stars. Certainly, Jolie is a different kettle of fish - Salt will make $125 million in the US on the strength of her and her alone - but generally speaking, Warners won't give big movies to leading actresses because it's not good business (see the list of talent above). Will the studio wait on it or pass or forge ahead hoping to emphasize Downey a little more than the script does and just hope Cuaron makes a smart film that really catches on?

Comments

[This Way]

I suppose this may be a similar problem with the development of Wonder Woman, given how not a lot of female actresses could get a big draw.

[This Way]

Actually, never mind since the Wonder Woman property will sell to moviegoers. I guess the question is whether she can fill the role of being an super heroine and set as an action star. I can see that Gravity is having a difficult time because it does not have the base audience of Wonder Woman and it has to sell tickets.

[Josh]

If not Jolie, it could give another starlett the chance to break out... wouldn't mind seeing more of Olivia Wilde.

[W]

The role really isn't for someone that young. This is a character that is on a team of astronauts sent to repair a satellite in out space. I think WB is overlooking some great possible actresses....Naomi Watts, Michelle Williams (maybe too young too), Kate Blanchett, Kate Winslet...but of the names above, Jolie is literally the only one that could carry it. This could go away in the next couple of weeks. It would be a shame too, because the script is amazing and Alfonso has a great vision.

[Vladimir]

Honestly, the only name I can think of is (don't laugh, I mean it) Meryl Streep.

[SEAN]

They should give someone newer and younger a chance. I mean wtf. Angelina will be in everyone's movies that want money NO she cant so they better get someone who can act and look good for the part

I hope this stays alive. Cuaron is a phenomenal talent I completely agree, he could be even better yes if the studiios did give him more money

ie Evan Rachel Wood or Hiary Swank, i mean sheesh i dunno. The list above seems good enough

[Average Joe]

Charlize.