@Nancy Meyers
Scarlett Johansson, Penélope Cruz, Michael Fassbender and Owen Wilson are in talks to join the cast of acclaimed filmmaker Nancy Meyers’ anticipated return to directing. The A-list actors are being considered to star in the helmer’s big-budget Netflix comedy, which is currently titled Paris Paramount, Deadline is reporting.
The actors’ deals have not yet closed, as the movie’s budgeting is still being worked on. Netflix has not yet publicly commented on or confirmed the performers’ potential casting. But the latest casting news comes after it was reported late last year had Jennifer Lawrence was being considered for the lead role, but she later left the project, due to unspecified reasons.
The news of Paris Paramount‘s development was first announced in April of last year. Early reports indicate that the feature’s story will follow a talented young writer-director who falls in love with a producer, and they end up making several successful films. But they eventually end their personal and professional relationships.
The two are later forced back together, however, when a great new project arises. They find themselves teamed up again and having to deal with high stakes and volatile stars.
Besides helming the movie, the Oscar-nominated Meyers is also writing the script and serving as a producer on the feature. There are several parallels between the filmmaker’s own life and the plot of Paris Paramount.
After meeting while working in Hollywood, Meyers had a longtime romantic and professional relationship with fellow scribe-helmer-producer, Charles Shyer. They got married and worked on such acclaimed movies as Private Benjamin, Baby Boom and Father of the Bride. Meyers and Shyer split.
The feature’s budget is reportedly in the $130 million to $150 million range, which would make it the most expensive rom-com to be produced in Hollywood. The studio and filmmakers going back and forth over costs, as first reported by Puck.
Paris Paramount will mark her first feature as director since the 2015 buddy comedy, The Intern. The film starred Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway.
Besides Paris Paramount, Johansson’s upcoming movie slate includes the romantic comedy-drama, Asteroid City, which was written, directed and produced by Wes Anderson, and may potentially premiere at Cannes. The Academy Award-nominated actress will also appear in director Greg Berlanti’s film Project Artemis for Apple TV+.
The Oscar-winning Cruz, meanwhile, will next be seen opposite Adam Driver in helmer Michael Mann’s biopic, Ferrari.
Fassbender is starring in director David Fincher’s anticipated Netflix neo-noir action thriller, The Killer. The Academy Award-nominated actor will also soon be seen in co-scribe-helmer-producer Taika Waititi’s sports comedy, Next Goal Wins.
The Oscar-nominated Wilson will reprise his role of Mobius in the upcoming second season of Marvel’s Loki on Disney+. He’ll also next be seen in IFC Films’ Paint and Disney’s Haunted Mansion.
Meyers is best known for her work in the rom-com genre. She also previously directed such iconic features as It’s Complicated, The Holiday, Something’s Gotta Give, What Women Want and The Parent Trap.
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