As we suspected Javier Bardem is now officially off Oliver Stone’s “Wall Street” sequel, “Money Never Sleeps.”
The actor turned down the role of an evil hedge fund manager due to scheduling conflicts.Though he “loves Oliver Stone,” he’s had “five or six other offers,” a publicist for the actor said.
This move of course paves the way for Bardem’s “No Country For Old Men” co-star and stock market fanatic Josh Brolin to jump on board.
Brolin was recently spotted meeting with Stone and the film’s lead Shia Labeouf and Brolin of course has already starred for the director once in, “W.” Michael Douglas is still onboard to reprise his role as Gordon Gekko. Bardem turns Stone down and Brolin picks it up? Sure looks like it… In fact we’d bet this comes to pass. It appears that Bardem has turned down the film to star in “Eat, Pray, Love” with Julia Roberts. [Forbes]
Update: We should do a “TOLDJA!” here as Nikki Finke is just now reporting that Brolin is going to receive the offer to replace Bardem. Tol….errr. nevermind.
Originally posted 7.25.09 at 9:23 AM