Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with a little tidbit for you folks.
A very well-placed source says the word in the agency world is that the Walter Hill-directed HEADSHOT, a hitman flick starring Sylvester Stallone, might be losing its co-lead, Thomas Jane.
What I hear is that while Stallone and Hill like Jane for the part (they must since he’s cast already), the film is now with Warner Bros’ Dark Castle and the studio wants Jane replaced with someone more “ethnic” in order to meet an in-house formula-for-success. The word is that Jane's still the favorite for Hill and Stallone, but the studio is insistent on getting a minority in the role.
I’m all for diversity in films, but it’d be a shame if Jane was booted against the wishes of the creative team all in order for the executive branch to meet some pre-determined criteria for success.
I haven’t read the script, but I do know I like the idea of Stallone and Jane on screen together. Stallone would be an older hitman and Jane a New York Cop that have to team up over the course of the film. That feels like an ‘80s gritty buddy movie with those two, especially with the great Walter Hill directing.
My source on this is solid, but I have Jane’s contact information from my time on the set of The Mist and have an email out to him. If I get a confirmation or denial I’ll update the story.
So there you have it. The studio process alive and well. Thoughts?
-Quint
quint@aintitcool.com
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