First Look at Troubled Western 'Jane got a Gun' with Natalie Portman and Joel Edgerton

Was there a more troubled movie over the last couple of years than the western Jane got a Gun? The film saw its original director Lynn Ramsay split (or was canned, depends who you ask) a couple of days before production, leading to a whole mess of lawsuits. But that was the tip of the iceberg as multiple stars have come, gone, switched roles and so forth, including Michael Fassbender, Jude Law, and Bradley Cooper. Oh, and even the cinematographer split at one point. Through all of this Natalie Portman has stayed on board in the title role, but she's been the on constant in a project in a continual state of flux. Hopefully her commitment is now beginning to pay off.

The first images from Jane got a Gun have been released, which is great for those who still have high hopes for it. Gavin O'Connor (Warrior) took over as director, which is certainly promising, but the constantly-changing release dates are another issue. The film has been bumped around the schedule multiple times and is now set to open on September 4th. We'll see.  Portman stars as a woman who turns to a gunslinging ex-lover (Joel Edgerton, who used to be in the villain role) to help defend her husband (Noah Emmerich) from a vicious band of outlaws. Ewan McGregor stars as the bad guy, with Rodrigo Santoro and Boyd Holbrook co-starring.

So is there still reason for optimism? There's a lot of talent here on both sides of the camera, but until we get some footage of Jane got a Gun it's too early to tell.

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Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman together again for 'Jane Got a Gun'

It looks like producers on the troubled western Jane Got a Gun have finally had enough of the casting woes, and have decided to use the Force to fix everything once and for all. The problems they've had are well documented, but in particular it's been difficult casting the role of the main villain, John Bishop. Michael Fassbender, Jude Law, and until recently Bradley Cooper were attached at various stages, but now it's going to be a Star Wars reunion of sorts as Ewan McGregor has joined the cast.

McGregor rejoins his Star Wars prequel colleagues Natalie Portman and Joel Edgerton (he played Uncle Owen in Attack of the Clones) in the film, which follows good girl Jane Hammond, who seeks to defend her home from the vicious Bishop Boys when her bad boy husband (Noah Emmerich) comes home full of bullets after turning on them. Her only means of survival is to look for help from Dan Frost (Edgerton), a gunslinger and ex-lover.

Hopefully reuniting two old friends like Portman and Law will let Gavin O'Connor get to directing what is still a very promising film, despite all of the headaches. [Deadline]

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The drama continues as Bradley Cooper exits 'Jane Got a Gun'

And the troubles continue for the production of western Jane Got a Gun, which just can't seem to catch a break no matter who the director is. It began with Michael Fassbender suddenly breaking away, quickly followed up by director Lynne Ramsay's departure just before filming was to begin. Gavin O'Connor took her place, with Jude Law joining the cast and Joel Edgerton shifting over to the gunslinger role vacated by Fassbender. Bradley Cooper would come aboard soon after Law made for the exits, and for awhile it looked like things had settled down long enough for star Natalie Portman to get acquainted with her co-stars. Turns out it was only a brief respite, as Cooper has now decided to leave.

Officially, it's Cooper's schedule filming David O. Russell's American Hustle, along with press commitments on The Hangover Part III, that are the cause for the move. Turnaround of this level is extremely rare, though, and clearly there's something really rotten going on that nobody is talking about. Cooper would have played John Bishop, the leader of a gang known as the Bishop Boys. Noah Emmerich plays Bill Hammond, who turns against the gang and comes home with a back full of bullets. When the Bishop Boys come looking to finish the job, Bill's wife (Portman) turns to an old lover (Edgerton) to help defend her home.

Producers are looking at Tom Hiddleston, Tobey Maguire, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt as potential replacements, but this film now has such a stigma attached to it they may find it difficult to attract a big name. [Deadline]

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Bradley Cooper rides in to replace Jude Law in 'Jane Got a Gun'

It's not often a production that has experienced quite the turmoil as Jane Got a Gun ends up on the positive when all is said and done. The anticipated western developed by director Lynne Ramsay went through a tumultuous week, losing star Michael Fassbender, only to have Jude Law come in and replace him. But the biggest bump in the road came when Ramsay herself bailed just as filming was to begin. Gavin O'Connor replaced her soon after, only for Law to cut his losses and skip town. Shooting did ultimately start up without Law's villain role filled, but now it's been taken up by none other than Bradley Cooper.

The red-hot Cooper saddles up for the film that also stars Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton, and Rodrigo Santoro. Jeff Bridges, Tobey Maguire, and Jake Gyllenhaal were considered for the part, but none of them have quite the same profile as Cooper holds right now, coming off Silver Linings Playbook. He's also earning high acclaim for his performance in The Place Beyond the Pines, which is out in theaters right now.

He joins Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton, and Rodrigo Santoro in the film about a woman whose outlaw husband turns on his gang and returns home riddled with bullets. When his old crew comes looking to finish the job, she turns to a gun-slinging former flame to help defend her home. Cooper will play the gang's leader.

Cooper has been filming David O. Russell's upcoming Abscam drama, so there is either a break or his scenes are completed. Either way, this has be seen as a step up for the troubled film, which is aiming to hit theaters in 2014. [Deadline]

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Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Jeff Bridges may replace Jude Law in 'Jane Got a Gun'

Another day brings yet another update on the troubled western Jane Got a Gun, which recently saw stars Michael Fassbender and director Lynne Ramsay abruptly leave the film just as production was set to begin. Jude Law stepped in to fill Fassbender's shoes, but due to all the behind-the-scenes drama he also made for the exits. With Gavin O'Connor (Miracle) filling in for Ramsay, the search was on for someone to replace Law, and now a few names have emerged.

The LA Times reports that Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, and Jake Gyllenhaal are on the list to take on the villain role, the leader of the Bishop Boys gang who gun down the outlaw husband of Natalie Portman's character. When she decides to take up arms and defend her home, she seeks the help of a gunslinger and former flame played by Joel Edgerton.

The choices are interesting, and depending on who is chosen could change the texture of the film considerably. Maguire and Gyllenhaal would be taking on a very different sort of role than they are accustomed to. Bridges may make the most obvious sense, but they would obviously need to age up the bad guy considerably, possibly requiring a script rewrite.

As for Ramsay, some are saying she's dealing with some personal issues and may have returned to the U.K. This could still end up in the courtroom, as producer Scott Steindorf suggests she's in complete breach of her contract.  

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Jude Law next to leave 'Jane Got a Gun'

And the Jane Got a Gun drama continues. A day after director Lynne Ramsay up and quit the western just as production was set to begin, she was replaced by Warrior director Gavin O'Connor. With everything supposedly back on course, filming was set to begin again tomorrow. Those plans are now thrown out the window, as Jude Law has decided to move on as well.

Law has barely been in the cast a week, replacing Michael Fassbender who exited after an apparent argument with Ramsay. It's possible Law caught the scent of this being a potential disaster, and cut his losses before getting in too deep. The film still has Joel Edgerton, Natalie Portman, and Rodrigo Santoro on board for now, but with all of this turmoil that could change at any moment. In particular, Portman is extremely selective and took on this role to work with Ramsay.

The show can't go on without the lead villain, so don't expect cameras to be rolling tomorrow as planned. [Deadline]

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Casting switcheroo on 'Jane Got a Gun' as Michael Fassbender exits and Jude Law joins

Lynne Ramsay's star-studded western Jane Got a Gun is only a few days from filming, which makes this a bad time for the cast to get juggled around. Fortunately, it seems to have worked out for the best, with an A-list star joining as one bows out.

Other than Natalie Portman, the other name most closely attached to the film was Michael Fassbender. But with there being some delays on X-men: Days of Future Past, he's now been forced to drop out. THR reports that Jude Law will be filling the void, but not in Fassbender's old role. Instead, it will be co-star Joel Edgerton taking on Fassbender's part, and Law will slide into Edgerton's. Got it?

The story follows a good wife (Portman) whose outlaw husband returns home full of bullet holes and barely alive. Law will play the leader of the gang that arrives to finish the job, while Edgerton will play Portman's former flame, a gunslinger who agrees to help defend their home.

Sounds good to me. Filming is set to begin in April so we should see it some time next year.

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Sure Shots: Angry Birds; Joel Edgerton; Michelle Williams

* Well, you knew this was coming, right? A film based on the addictive video game Angry Birds was bound to happen, and now today on the third anniversary of its debut the announcement we were expecting has finally happened. Rovio Entertainment has announced that John Cohen(Despicable Me) is set to produce an Angry Birds feature film for the summer of 2016. David Maisel, ex-Chairman of Marvel Studios, is on board to exec-produce.

* We keep waiting for Joel Edgerton to finally take his place amongst the A-list elite, and maybe that time has come with Zero Dark Thirty right around the corner and The Great Gatsby next year. Between those two flicks he'll star alongside Natalie Portman and Michael Fassbender in Jane Got a Gun, the upcoming Western from Lynne Ramsay(We Need to Talk About Kevin). Awesome? Hell yeah it's awesome. Portman plays a woman who turns to her ex-lover(Fassbender) for help when her husband is shot up by his former gang. Edgerton would play John Bishop, the leader of the men coming to her husband. Filming is set to begin early next year. [Deadline]

* Michelle Williams was excellent and dare I say awards-worthy in Take This Waltz earlier this year, but you'd never know it based on the lack of attention she's received this season. Fortunately that doesn't seem to be deterring her from taking on another complex, character driven role in 2013. She is reportedly in talks to star in The Double Hour, from Maria Full of Grace director Joshua Marston. A remake of 2009's Italian romantic-thriller, La Doppia Ora, it follows a maid and a security officer who meet at a speed dating event, only to have tragedy strike and weird things begin occurring when the clock hits a "double hour". This is  tremendously promising, but with Williams shooting Suite Francais next we may be waiting a little while.

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