We’ve been wondering: What happened to Noah Baumbach’s “Greenberg”?
First off, in December, Mark Ruffalo dropped out of the picture after his brother died and the role with recast with Ben Stiller (sigh…). Ruffalo leaving the project also meant that Amy Adams bailed as well and our hopes for another excellent Baumbach comedy with a stellar cast evaporated.
Well, according to Production Weekly’s Twitter feed. The director’s wife Jennifer Jason Leigh has stepped into the role, of what we can assume was Adams’ part and that the film will begin principle photography in late March. Wow, that’s quick. We figured the two leads dropping out would push this project back for months, but there was probably only a quick funds window to shoot and recasting immediately was probably more ideal than waiting for months and money potentially drying up.
Details have been kept under wraps, but we all know it’s a “relationship comedy,” and we’re seemingly the only publication that knows and has reported that the Baumbach script was co-written with Leigh.
When I first heard about this film I was excited — Noah Baumbach, Mark Ruffalo and Amy Adams! But I am quite disappointed in the recasting to the point that I don’t even think I’m looking forward to it anymore. I find Ben Stiller just has a schtick that he does over and over and isn’t a real actor. And though I know that many people love Jennifer Jason Leigh, I find her affectations annoying. So yeah, I’m disappointed in the news.
i’ve read the script, and i dont think that ben stiller will be a good fit. seeing ruffalo in this position would have been very interesting, but now i can only home this thing is shot and then forgotten.
How dare you read the script and not share! Kidding (sorta). i just got it today. Yeah, I’m sure Stiller is terrible for Baumbach’s writing, but this is what happens when actors drop out and you have to cast someone or lose your window to make the movie at all.