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The Tourist May Finally Be Moving Forward With a New Director

by Alex Billington
October 19, 2009

This production has gone through lots of changes, but I guess that's Hollywood for you! Variety has run another update on The Tourist, the Hollywood remake of the 2005 French thriller Anthony Zimmer. Back when it was first announced years ago, Tom Cruise was attached to star, then Charlize Theron joined the project as his co-star. Eventually Cruise dropped out to do Wichita, replaced by Sam Worthington. And then Theron dropped out, replaced by none other than Angelina Jolie. With her on-board, the project has gained momentum, and they're close to securing a director and finally shooting (if all goes as planned, of course).

Variety now says that Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, the German director behind the Oscar winning The Lives of Others from 2006 (remember the film that won over Pan's Labyrinth in a big upset?), is the "top choice" to direct the thriller. However, they say he hasn't even entered into negotiations (has he even been called yet?), but "studios are expected to begin jockeying for the film that is likely to be ready for a 2011 release." I have a feeling he's going to wake up and read about this himself, finding out that he's the frontrunner to direct this for the first time in the news online. Again, I guess that's how Hollywood works.

As for Angelina Jolie, Variety says that she's considering taking on this project over a few other possible projects, including the sequel to Wanted. So if this gets the greenlight and everyone signs on, Wanted 2 will be put on hold until she's ready to hop back onto that. She would only agree to join if they found the right director and after meetings with a few candidates, word was that von Donnersmarck was the right choice (phew!). The script was written by Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park, The Young Victoria) and rewritten by Valkyrie writer Christopher McQuarrie. Spyglass Ent. is producing in partnership with StudioCanal.

I hope this actually means The Tourist may finally start shooting soon. Not because I'm particularly that excited for it, but just because I'm getting tired of writing about a casting change every few months. Maybe I need to go rent Anthony Zimmer to see why it's something I should be looking forward to so much. But if I do that, I may end up thinking it shouldn't be remade. Oh well, I guess that's Hollywood for you, right?

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