'Les Miserables' Duo Tom Hooper and Eddie Redmayne Reunite for 'The Danish Girl'

An adaptation of David Ebershoff's novel, The Danish Girl, has been in the works for years with a ton of top name talent attached, and yet for various reasons it just hasn't gotten done. Tomas Alfredson, Lasse Hallstrom, Nicole Kidman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Marion Cotillard, Charlize Theron, and Rachel Weisz have all been attached at various points, and now it'll be Tom Hooper and Eddie Redmayne who will give it a shot.

Hooper is set to direct his Les Miserables star in the film which tells the true story of Danish painter Einar Wegener, the first verifiable sex change patient. Einar would eventually change his name to Lili Elbe once reassignment was complete. Einar found the courage to undergo the procedure from the encouragement of his wife, Gerda, even though she recognized it would be the end of their marriage.

Talk about a challenging film for both director and star. Hopefully financing can be secured and a female lead found to get this project going once and for all. [Deadline]

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Nicolas Winding Refn, Ang Lee, Shane Black and more eyed for next James Bond film

It's always a big deal when names start getting tossed around to direct the next James Bond film, but after the $1B+ returns on Skyfall, it's become more of an issue than ever. With Sam Mendes dropping out, the Internet was set abuzz when Christopher Nolan supposedly entered informal talks with producers, although nobody knows for sure just what entails. It could have just been a chat over breakfast. However those negotiations are, other directors are definitely being considered.

A report at Variety tosses Nicolas Winding Refn, Ang Lee, David Yates, Shane Black, and Tom Hooper into the mix to helm Bond 24, although they note that we could be waiting awhile for a final decision. The shortlist isn't at all surprising, as each contender is either a proven box office or awards season success, and are definitely of a similar stature as Mendes.

Refn is perhaps the most intriguing choice, even if he's also the one least likely to take something like this on. After what sounds like an awful experience during the brief time he was attached to helm The Equalizer, Refn came out recently and compared making blockbuster flicks like banging a cheap whore....

Refn: “Hollywood is like going into a hotel room and seeing the most gorgeous escort girl. She will say to you 'You are the greatest filmmaker in the world, I will do whatever you want’ and you’re so tempted, but you’re also like ‘Am I gonna catch something?’”

FirstShowing actually caught up with Refn recently and asked him directly about taking on the next Bond film. He doesn't confirm anything, but the site takes his smirk and demeanor as a confirmation he's been approached. They may be reaching a bit on that mark. Check it out in the video below....


Whoever gets the job will have to work with the script being put together by John Logan, which is expected to be bigger and extend into the follow-up film. So it's not as if the director is going to get much of a chance to put his own stamp on the franchise, which is perhaps the main reason why directors like Nolan and Refn seems like long shots.

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Tom Hooper could direct Sacha Baron Cohen in Freddie Mercury biopic

It's been a couple of years since we started to hear about Sacha Baron Cohen starring in a biopic on Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury. Written by Frost/Nixon scribe Peter Morgan, the film has been kicking around ever since without a director. Stephen Frears was said to be the top contender just last year, but now Deadline hears that Cohen's Les Miserables director, Tom Hooper, may take on the job.

Hooper obviously knows Cohen's vocal talent, so this could be a perfect match. No offers have been made yet, but it would be interesting to see if Hooper has him perform the songs live on set as in Les Miserables. The story is said to begin in 1970 during Queen's formation, then conclude around 1985's Live Aid concert. Mercury would soon after be diagnosed with AIDS, succumbing to the disease in 1991.

The plan by producers seems to be to find U.K. directors for the project, which is probably a smart move in chronicling the London performer's career.

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