Though he's cropped up in reports about the film, most expected that the usually selective, tough to schedule Brad Pitt wouldn't be taking a role in Ridley Scott's "The Counselor." But it seems the superstar is still taking a hard look, and may be reteaming with the man who gave him his breakout turn in "Thelma & Louise."
Twitch reports that in recent days, Pitt has met with Scott to discuss taking the role of Westray in the film. Set mostly in the border country where Cormac McCarthy's stories often take place, the screenplay follows the titular character — an attorney, whose name we never learn — who is in search of a big payday after he proposes to his girlfriend, Laura. So he hooks up with Reiner, an acquaintance with deep criminal ties, for a new business proposition: they'll take $20 million worth of cocaine from south of the border and offload it themselves, aided by the no-good Westray. As you might imagine, things do not go well for anyone involved.
We've read the script, and we pegged the role of Westray for someone in the vein of Mark Strong or Russell Crowe (though Pitt will do quite nicely). He is an enigmatic character, with his job never quite clear, but he's in the drug trade, and advises and aids the attorney on his new sideline gig. It's not exactly a lead role, but a good supporting part, and it would see Michael Fassbender and Pitt team up before they begin work this summer on "Twelve Years A Slave" (new bromance?).
With shooting aiming to kick off this spring, we'll likely have answers to the casting questions soon.