It’s been almost two years since Warner Bros. announced that Clint Eastwood would direct a remake of A Star is Born starring pop star/sometimes actress Beyoncé, but Beyoncé’s pregnancy put the project on hold, allowing Eastwood to star in Trouble With the Curve (which I loved — check out my review here!) After all, Eastwood is always working: since his film debut in 1955, Clint Eastwood has either directed, acted in, or produced at least one film or TV show in every year except 2001, 1996, 1994, 1991, 1987 and 1981. But we might end up adding 2013 to the list, because Variety reports that Beyoncé has officially pulled out of the A Star is Born remake, which would be the third remake of the 1937 classic after the 1954 version starring Judy Garland and the 1976 version starring Barbara Stresiand.
Truthfully Beyoncé’s pregnancy really threw the project in disarray, which never cast the male lead of the older, alcoholic fading star though Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Cruise, Christian Bale, Johnny Depp and Bradley Cooper were considered or approached. However, Eastwood, being a jazz aficionado, is hoping to cast jazz musician Esperanza Spaulding in the lead role (obviously keeping with the interracial angle with the leads, which adds a new element to the classic story). Perhaps it might work to Eastwood’s benefit that the lead female wouldn’t be an established star, which adds to the film’s theme of a washed up actor helping a newcomer female become a huge star. After all, Beyoncé is already a huge star.
All I know is that as a huge fan of Eastwood’s films I hope this project gets back on track again — a year without an Eastwood film is like a year without Christmas. Well… maybe not that extreme, but I sure would be disappointed.
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