Bradley Cooper Joins ‘The Words’; Jeremy Irons In Talks; Directorial Debut By ‘Tron: Legacy’ Writers

Though his profile was raised considerably thanks to a starring turn in “The Hangover,” Bradley Cooper isn’t quite proven outside of that comedy vehicle. Yet. Oh sure, he had “The A-Team” last summer, but that was sold more on the franchise than the actors and its terribleness was due mostly to the atrocious material than anything else. Coming up, he’s got the thriller “Limitless” that will be the first real test of his leading man status and he will be testing the waters with none other than Robert De Niro in that pic. But clearly, Cooper isn’t eager to get pigeonholed into frat boy comedy and his next project is another shift of direction for the actor.

Variety reports that Cooper has signed to star in the drama “The Words.” Intriguingly, the film will mark the directorial debut for “Tron: Legacy” writers Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal (whose script for the movie landed on the Black List), and will focus on “a writer who, at the peak of his literary success, discovers the price he must pay for stealing another man’s work.” Jeremy Irons is in talks to co-star in the film and while no roles have been specified, we assume that Cooper is the writer and Irons would be the aggrieved victim of his theft.

So, a plagiarism drama, huh? Yeah, doesn’t exactly set a fire under us, but the script did appear on the Black List so there is likely more than meets the eye here. No word yet on when production will start but we presume if financing and what not comes into place, it will lens this year.