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Matt Damon & Josh Brolin Joining the Coen Brothers' True Grit

by Ethan Anderton
October 26, 2009

Over a month ago we found out that Jeff Bridges was set to take on the lead role in Joel and Ethan Coen's remake of the classic John Wayne western True Grit. While there certainly seems to be some dissension amongst the hardcore western/John Wayne fans out there, the Coens are still moving full steam ahead as THR reports that additionally Matt Damon and Josh Brolin have also been approached to take on lead roles in this story of two men in uniform tracking the killer of a 14 year-old girl's father. Damon would play the lawman opposite the already cast Jeff Bridges while Brolin would be the murderous man they're chasing.

As we no doubt know, Brolin has already worked with the Coens in the Academy Award winning No Country for Old Men and he's become quite the busy man moving on to an acclaimed performance in last year's Milk and roles in the upcoming Woody Allen film (which just released its title today) and the comic book western Jonah Hex. Matt Damon is new to the Coen Brothers' talent roster, surprisingly, but he's no stranger to the western setting, having starred in the fairly well-received 2000 film All the Pretty Horses, directed by Billy Bob Thornton, then again that was awhile ago. It'll be quite interesting seeing him in that setting nowadays.

No matter how dedicated you may be to the original 1969 John Wayne version of True Grit, I think that the combination of the Coen Brothers and the cast involved thus far is reason enough to give this remake a shot. The Coen's No Country for Old Men had a classic western feel to it with some of the most stunning visuals of the Southwestern landscape I've seen in recent years. We will definitely be keeping an eye on this project!

Explore tags: Casting, Movie News

Cody

Awesome....No doubt Coen brothers will do it again. Have they made a bad movie?
sean

^^^ yes.
rowdy

yeah great talent but put to a movie that has already been made is kind of disapointing especilly one that never gets old and has john wayne at his best
beavis

why not make a new, ORIGINAL western?........there is no need to remake a classic.
Cineprog

You still cannot beat the original John wayne True Grit which he won oscar for the story in my cannot be beat as a weston.
branden

if anyone can pull it off...the Coen's can. And they're the LAST people in Hollywood that should be blamed for not being original.
Corran Horn

This is sounding better and better. While I was a little uneasy when I heard that the Coen's would be remaking TRUE GRIT, that uneasiness switched to eagerness when I saw the cast they were gathering (to say nothing of the Coens themselves or the producers). I've been reading suggestions that Saoirse Ronan should play the young girl, and I think she would be the perfect choice.
Jeff

Like everyone else, I was less than thrilled about this project but the cast sounds fantastic and if the Brothers Coen keep in step with the Charles Portis book (substantially darker than the Wayne classic), we're in for one hell of a film. I mean Oscar caliber material here...
beavis

brandon, if they do a remake of a film, then they should be blamed with everyone else in hollywood who are doing these bogus films. don't give us a remake...........give us a NEW western. seriously, am i the only person who's tired of hearing about remakes?
The Duke

I don't mind remakes, but not this one. Simply because Bridges is the furthest from Wayne you can get. Plus, good remakes are the exception, clearly not the rule.
Corran Horn

The Duke: Considering how much I dislike Wayne, the point you made is one of the reasons I want to see this.
SlashBeast

Add as much talent as you want but it's just going to end up as another boring, lifeless turd from the eevr so crappy Coen bros.
Governor

So, where's all the people crying about the lack of originality in Hollywood?
Tractornuts

As a true John Wayne fan, I have to say I'm sorry for those who did not grow up with him, He was not just a movie star he was our compass, He told you right and wrong, there was no middle ground, Simple and straight forward. So I am looking forward to this remake because of the book, not because of the actors, I hope the Coen Bros. Do the kind of work that they always do, the rest will fall into place, Now if anyone dont agree with me, "They Have Clabber For Brains"