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Ellen Page Drops Out of Sam Raimi's Drag Me to Hell - Updated!

by Alex Billington
March 2, 2008
Source: Bloody-Disgusting.com

Earlier this month we reported that Ellen Page had joined Sam Raimi's upcoming horror flick Drag Me to Hell. Although that was some of the most exciting casting news we've ever heard, Bloody Disgusting has confirmed that Page has dropped out of the film. The reason they were given is that "she didn't like the latest draft of the script", but as they speculate, that just seems like the public statement given in order to cover up the real story. Either way, this is sad news for Raimi's next flick.

While it's not our nature to pick apart this story and attempt to undermine the charming Oscar nominated actress Ellen Page, our guess is that she has become a bit more picky regarding her films, maybe because of her Oscar nom. She's always said that she chooses projects less for money and more for their idea, and although it would seem Raimi has a great film in the works, it's just not for Page. No other hints at who might fill in for her yet, but we'll be sure to keep you posted.

Raimi's Drag Me to Hell is "a morality tale about the unwitting recipient of a supernatural curse." Raimi wrote the script for Drag Me to Hell with his brother Ivan quite a while ago under the title The Curse, and it was finished after they made Army of Darkness back in 1992. He's been sitting on this script that probably has immense inspiration from Evil Dead and Army of Darkness, since he wrote it while making those movies, and is just now starting to film.

Update: Variety has posted official confirmation of Page's drop out. The statement they released blames the upcoming SAG strike and scheduling conflicts.

"We were racing to start production so that we could accommodate Ellen’s schedule," Ghost House and Mandate said in a joint statement. "But like so many other productions trying to start before the potential SAG strike date, this one needed more time, and we had to push back the start of production."

If you're dying to see the young beauty back on screen after Juno, don't fear, she's got quite a few projects in the works. In addition to the upcoming Smart People, due out in theaters on April 11th, she's starring in Peacock with Cillian Murphy, Whip It! directed by Drew Barrymore, and Jack and Diane eventually.

Update #2: Variety has reported that Alison Lohman, of Big Fish, Flicka and Beowulf, has replaced Page. Shooting starts on March 31st in Los Angeles.

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Spider

Let's hope there's rationale behind her exit and not some superficial mentality that's driving her. Anyway, I'll stay tuned!!We'll see!
http://www.andreascliment.com Andreas

...or it could just be that the script sucks? Raimi is a good director but I'm not convinced by his screenwriting. Look at Spider-man 3...
http://www.firstshowing.net Alex Billington

You DO know that Sam Raimi did NOT primarily write the script for Spider-Man 3... His name is listed, but he really did NOT do the majority of the work - that was done by Alvin Sargent and his brother Ivan...
Scorpio

1. From what I have gathered it is her superficial mentality, she has gotten due to the over-hyped praise of Juno. Personally I used to like her, now I feel she'll play the same character in every film. 15 minutes and counting. 2. Don't blame Sam for Spider-man 3, his orignal concept was Sandman and Vulture (played by Ben Kingsley), the studio forced him to use Venom.
http://www.andreascliment.com Andreas

If that is indeed the case I retract my statement =) You guys shouldn't be so sensitive though. One minute you praise Ellen Page for her work in Juno and Hard Candy and the next you almost accuse her of being picky and superficial because she didn't like a screenplay that you assume is awesome. Have you read the draft of the screenplay that is referred to?
israelidude

personally, I'd hate to see any more RAIMI MOVIES COMING OUT...THE guy maybe had something potential in the past, but that past is waaaaay far back there....raimi lost whatever skill you think he ever had. thank god he didnt get "the hobbit". he'd have butchered that one.
http://movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

She probably had a chance to take something for a hell of a lot more money and did it. That's what Reese Witherspoon did when she won. She like made $35mil. for some horror movie, "Our Family Problems" I think it was called, and that wans't even made yet!
http://movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

Oh, it was called our family trouble.
Curtis

I dont really care to much for her, i mean she was good in juno but shes not all that im pretty sure they can find someone else that will fit the part better. just my two cents.
Conrad

Post number 2: Don't blame Sam Raimi for Spider-Man 3, it wasn't his fault at all that the movie was lousy, he had a different vision and suits decided to make it more "commercial" by using venom and spilling too much romance and shite into it. Sam Raimi is a great filmmaker on all counts, besides his horror flick classics i.e. Evil Dead, he did an EXCELLENT JOB with the first two Spider-Man. I was so happy when I first saw Ellen would be working with Sam on his new horror flick in the vein of Evil Dead. This news is quite depressing, I must say, but maybe things will turn around again... We will have to see
Brad

I wouldn't call Raimi a great filmmaker, not by a longshot. I'm not a fan of horror movies, so I won't comment on his (but having read some of their plots, I will say they're.. well crap). The Spiderman movies however ARE fairly entertaining, but they are by no means great films. A step in the right direction for comic book movies, but they're still a fair way off.
Spider

Per post #'s 2 & 5, Andreas: It appears that you ARE the sensitive one. we did not mention her as being picky nor superficial, we questioned her RATIONALE and MOTIVATIONS behind the exit. It could be anything--maybe her small asking fee for this flick that ballooned after "Juno" became a huge hit???? Anything! I suppose you MUST HAVE read the script because you seem to imply that that's why she dropped out. So don't be so SENSITIVE and attack Scorpio and myself---we are only voicing our opinions.....ok pumpkin? P.S. Please take a little time to thoroughly read the posts before you retort!
http://striderdemme.wordpress.com Joseph

Alex, I commend you for not making a pun out of the title. That is all.
Scorpio

Allison Lohman is a far superior actress & replacement. It only took a weekend to replace the role, wow that was quick. At least we didn't get a one-trick pony.
Scorpio

Per post # 11 Brad. You wouldn't call Sam Raimi a great filmmaker, your nuts. You obviously haven't seen the very subtle and classic "A Simple Plan". Sam Raimi is a stylish director, he created camera shots and comic book filmmaking, before the Spiderman films, that others have copied off ever since. I bet your a Michael Bey fan , aren't you.
Jedi

My heart sank when I saw the article on IGN announcing her replacement. But, that was probably because I read it as "Lohan Replaces Page In Hell." I think that Allison Lohman will be great in the role. I can't tell you have relieved I am that it's *not* Lindsay Lohan.
Brad

#15: Learn to spell before you try and insult me. I haven't seen A Simple Plan and won't comment on it, but I don't like tacky horror movies, and the Spiderman flicks are entertaining but very dodgy. One or two (possibly good) movies won't change how I feel about the others. It's called an opinion and i'm allowed to have it. As for that Michael BAY remark, I happen to like The Rock and Transformers very much, despite their problems. The Bad Boys films however, I think are some of the worst movies ever made. I don't think either are good filmmakers simply because of the complete inconsistency in the quality of their works.