We’ve known as far back as June of last year, that following his London based romantic drama, “You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger,” Woody Allen would be shooting his next film in Paris (he’s basically done with the U.S., European film fat cats are more than happy to finance his film productions).
In November, singer/former model, current First Lady of France, Carla Bruni, was confirmed to be part of the cast. And more recently, the film has finally started to take shape. Owen Wilson of all people looks like he might take the male lead part (or we’re assuming he’d play the lead, there’s been little details so far).
Now Deadline is reporting that Academy Award-winning French actress Marion Cotillard (“Nine,” “Inception,” “La Vie En Rose”) is set to take the female lead. The picture is set to start shooting this summer and is still an untitled film so far; there’s no other additional info so far.
But Owen Wilson alongside Marion Cotillard as directed by Woody Allen? Allen’s been very hit and miss over the last few years, but recent near bulls-eyes like, “Match Point” and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” suggest the New York director still has a few good pictures in him. And note, not once has the word comedy been used in association with this film (early reports called it a “romantic drama“). That doesn’t mean it won’t be comedic, but could you imagine Owen Wilson trying to stretch his chops acting in a serious Woody Allen film ala, “Crimes & Misdemeanors”? That’s probably not the case, but dare to dream, right?
As Deadline notes, Allen used to have the luxury of having American studios finance his films even before a script was presented. Now that the film climate has changed — and his pictures never hauled in enormous amounts of cash — he’s had to take his projects to Europe where they will still be financed sight unseen (the way he prefers it; it pays to be revered overseas sometimes).
Allen’s next picture is the aforementioned “You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger” which stars Josh Brolin, Naomi Watts, Antonio Banderas (set photos here and here), Anthony Hopkins, Freida Pinto, Gemma Jones, Bollywood star Anupam Kher and up and comer, Lucy Punch. It’s been speculated that the film might premiere at Cannes this year.
