Last we heard, Natalie Portman had acquired the film rights to Seth Grahame-Smith’s literary-mash-up “Pride And Prejudice And Zombies” and was set to star with David O. Russell attached to write and direct.
However, a recent report on a new Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov-produced film adaptation of the mash-up franchise’s “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” details that Portman is now on board ‘Zombies’ as both producer and director, with no mention of O. Russell writing, directing or Portman starring.
Could THR have their wires mixed up? O. Russell was ostensibly never actually officially confirmed for the project, correct?
Possibly, but Deadline actually confirmed yesterday that “David O. Russell is circling that project,” and “Pride And Prejudice And Zombies” author Seth Grahame-Smith talked to the NYPost yesterday and seemed pretty excited when he said, “I was thrilled [about Natalie Portman coming on board]. It’s like the dream casting for Elizabeth — Natalie just completely gels with the Elizabeth I had in my head while writing the book. And now David O. Russell is writing the screenplay and directing it — he’s just a genius. I just feel like I keep winning the lottery on a weekly basis.”
So even though Portman has directed two shorts now (one in “New York I Love You,” and one that fey indie-rocker Sufjan Stevens did the music for), it appears that she won’t be making her directorial debut here. So if like us you were initially excited and or surprised to read this in THR’s report, chalk it up to the fact that even professionals make mistakes these days.
Portman has slowly moved into the producing game with the recently announced “Best Buds,” “Love And Other Impossible Pursuits” and “Hesher” all of which she has a leading role in. ‘Zombies’ will see her follow this trend.
O. Russell, meanwhile, recently finished his boxing-drama “The Fighter” starring Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo which has already test-screened well and has been attached to “Southern-fried” comedy “Grackle” with Matthew McConaughey, rom-com “Aaron & Sarah” and mental-breakdown pic “The Silver Linings Playbook,” though none of these sound like they’re about to go any time soon.
Which project will be next for O. Russell? Our bet is “Pride And Prejudice And Zombies” but since he’s still writing the script it might be early days. “The Silver Linings Playbook” is probably the most interesting sounding to us, but its a Weinstein project and they need hits, not peculiar and odd little indies.