Two filmmakers are currently trying to get to the top of an “Everest” film first: Doug Liman and Baltasar Kormakur. But the question is which one will get there first as one has lost a lead, and the other some financing.
So let’s start the Liman flick, which had been slated to star Tom Hardy. Well, according to Deadline, with a March 2014 start date eyed, scheduling didn’t work out and now the hunt for a new leading man is on. Benedict Cumberbatch is apparently in the mix to take over Hardy’s role as George Mallory, with Joel Kinnaman, James McAvoy, Tom Hiddleston, Henry Cavill, Luke Evans, Dan Stevens, Matthew Goode and Jim Sturgess being tossed around to play George Finch, in the adaptation of Jeffrey Archer‘s “Paths Of Glory” that will tell the true tale of the first man to climb Mount Everest.
But it seems like a wishlist right now, rather than anything concrete. Why? For the simple reason that (as our readers pointed out) projects like “Batman Vs. Superman,” “Crimson Peak” and “Frankenstein” are keeping a few of the names off of that list already. But it seems we might find out soon with Sony gunning to beat Universal and Working Title with their movie.
That project, which has Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes and Jason Clarke slated to star, will tell the true story of the 1996 expedition up the famed mountain, when a storm hit mid-climb and eight explorers lost their lives. Emmett/Furla Films recent backed out as co-financiers leaving Universal and Working Title left to find someone else to step in, and given that cast, it’s likely they will. But will it be soon enough to get things rolling before the other movie? Only time will tell.
As for you, which movie would you put down $12 for?
i would watch that list of Brits over the others any day of the week!!
If it had Tom Hiddleston in it I would be extremely interested. I've been dying to see him have a big role in a movie that isn't part of the MCU. I guess we will see what he has got in Crimson Peak eh?
So, looks like Hardy takes on Elton John biopic, and passed on this one. Though him being cast as Elton John seems a bit of random, but it's a nice change for Hardy as he already has a lot of macho cred on his CV; adding Mallory wouldn't be much more interesting. This sounds like an interesting movie on paper; don't have much opinion on the new casting, as long as Hiddleston is not in it; I'll avoid him and his very noisy Loki's army by all means. Thank goodness he's not in The Avengers 2.
If it had had Tom Hiddleston and and Benedict Cumberbatch Eveerst would have won hands down. I would have loved to see those two together in a film. It would be the yin and yan of acting. One all tight and reserved and the other more fluid and emotional. But Tom is doing Crimson Peak which I actually find more intriguing.
Ahh, it's a real shame scheduling didn't work out for Tom. He would've been the perfect Mallory. He's still the very best out there. I was looking forward to this one!
I have been thinking that Benedict Cumberbatch would be an excellent Mallory…I'm so excited! Hope this comes through for him.
Definitely would see Paths of Glory, been waiting for a Jeffrey Archer book to be made into film and this would be a good one (also the Clifton Chronicles). Benedict and Tom would make excellent competitors/friends onscreen.
Wow, this is too bad. I was really looking forward to seeing Tom Hardy in this role.
Huddleston has Crimson Peak
And McAvoy is scheduled to start filming 'Frankenstein; w/ Daniel Radcliffe January 2014.