Wait, what mumblecore star Greta Gerwig has the lead female role opposite Ben Stiller in Noah Baumbach’s “Greenberg”?
Was Production Weekly wrong or did we assume too much (certainly wouldn’t be the first time)? Yesterday PW reported that Jennifer Jason Leigh had joined the “relationship comedy” she co-wrote with Baumbach so we assumed she had taken the lead, but THR reports it’s the “Hannah Takes The Stairs” star instead.
A few more details on the project from the trade: It’s the first film not set in Baumbach’s beloved East Coast and instead will center in Los Angeles and will focus on “relationship intimacies in the manner of past Baumbach pictures.” Scott Rudin (“The Reader”) is producing and Focus Features will distribute. THR does not mention JJL at all, but does agree with PW that filming will begin in March.
God, from Mark Ruffalo and Amy Adams to Stiller and Gerwig, ugh. It’s like a poor-man’s Noah Baumbach film. We feel bad for the director, but sometimes you’ve gotta cast with a deadline and whoever’s available. Certainly Stiller’s presence could easily make it the most financially successful Baumbach, but as for quality? We’re getting flashbacks of Jack Black almost derailing “Margot At The Wedding,” a fantastic movie about emotional violence and blackmail that audiences and critics will one day appreciate.
THR also notes that Baumbach is still on board to write the 9/11 tale “The Emperor’s Children,” for Universal and Ron Howard (weird, right?) Update: PW’s Twitter now says Jennifer Jason Leigh is producing, with Scott Rudin and makes no mention of her appearing in the film as an actress, yet THR doesn’t mention her at all. What gives? So she’s not in this thing then? Looks that way.