Over the past couple of days, the cast roster for Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu’s comedy Birdman has been quickly inked in. Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Naomi Watts and Zach Galifianakis are all set to appear in a film that sounds almost as if it might have been written by Charlie Kaufman. Another important role has filled today.
(via CinemaBlend) Edward Norton is the latest actor to join the cast of Birdman. Written by Innaritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris and Armando Bo, the story follows a has-been actor (Keaton) who was once famous for playing an iconic superhero. Finding himself broke, he decides that the best way to see his name in lights again is to put on a Broadway play based on a story by Raymond Carver. Unfortunately, according to Deadline, his plans get derailed by an “egotistical lead stage actor,” the character set to be played by Norton.
Watts will play Norton’s female co-star in the play-within-a-movie, Stone will be playing Keaton’s daughter/assistant, and Galifianakis will be the show’s slimy producer. The film will actually be shot in a Broadway theater in New York and production is currently scheduled to begin in the middle of next month.
The female lead role has yet to be cast. Watch this space for updates as this project continues to look more and more amazing.
Bah! The symptoms of reading a story far past a reasonable bedtime.
This-
“sounds almost as if it might have been written by Charlie Kaufman. ”
and this-
“Written by Innaritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris and Armando Bo”
We won’t be getting Kaufman, just Kaufmanesque.
AGI that’s either Amores Perros or 21 Grams is fine. It is what is after where you wonder why he continues of this miserablist trek because it is starting to feel like the same damn movie. So this is a really promising development. And Kaufman being just the writer is fine. It will be interesting to see what each bring out of each other.
I’m happy to see Naomi Watts and Ed Norton together again. The Painted Veil is one of my favorites.
Love the idea for the story, but I love Charlie Kaufman, so that’s not surprising. The cast sounds like a Woody Allen film though. And well, Innaritu hasn’t displayed ANY funny instincts in his films so far. Maybe this is a step in the right direction, but I fear (especially when someone points out the number of writers) that it’s going to be a train wreck. (And yes, I have seen all 4 of his nominated films.)
I love Norton’s performance in […] X. However, to be honest, his effort in Primal Fear was, to me, a bit overrated in terms of critics’ recognition and awards season.
Somewhat love Babel (you know, when in mood for something non-mainstream, like, somewhat hardcore non-mainstream). Meh to 21 Grams *sorry*. Haven’t seen Amores […] nor Biutiful. Clueless about everything else re A.G. Inarritu. [Reading: Not sure if he’d done comedy genre b4….]
Looking forward to it out of curiosity in main. *meow*
Thank you murtaza!
I will announce the nominations for 2012 soon.
I expect your comments!
http://felipe-cinema.blogspot.com/
@ karl
like your selection of films, a lot of them resemble my own like a separation, a prophet etc
@Marco G. – to answer your question: Me, too.
Four writers for a comedy, tricky cast, plot similar to what we’ve seen before from Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, etc (all of whom are masters of comedy).
Hopefully, he’ll surprise. If anybody can, it’s Innaritu.
Please look my blog
http://felipe-cinema.blogspot.com/
Awesome!!!! now that nortons in it ill go see it love Norton as an actor. hey Ryan did u see dead man down? Curious what you thought about it?
Anybody else feeling nervous about Iñarritu doing a comedy?
Very much looking forward to this. One of my favorite directors