LATEST NEWS
Timothy Olyphant is Replacing Sharlto Copley in 'Number Four'
by Alex Billington
May 12, 2010
Source: FilmDrunk
Oh no, I was actually really looking forward to seeing Wikus Van De Merwe in this! Variety is reporting that actor Sharlto Copley has recently dropped out of D.J. Caruso's I Am Number Four due to "scheduling conflicts with his upcoming press obligations for Fox's The A-Team." Well that sucks (note: read ahead for the apparent real reason why he left). To replace him, Caruso has cast Timothy Olyphant instead to play the role of Henri, a guardian and mentor to the story's title character (played by Alex Pettyfer), an alien from another planet who escaped before it was destroyed by another rival species and has come to Earth to hide.
I'm not really the biggest fan of Olyphant, who recently appeared in The Crazies and A Perfect Getaway and stars on "Justified," but he's a good actor and can do a good job in the right roles. For some reason, I'm not that excited for I Am Number Four yet, mainly because I don't know that much about it nor do I really care for the cast or anyone else involved. That said, I was particularly looking forward to seeing Sharlto in this, but now that he's out, my interest has dropped again (until I see some footage). Let's hope there are no other major snags before production begins. We'll keep you updated as shooting starts this month in Pittsburgh.
Update: I'm hesitant to report this, but it's so crazy, I think I have to mention it! FilmDrunk claims that they have the real story behind why Sharlto left this movie: "Copley wanted wear a prosthetic nose and fake ears like Spock and look like an alien in the movie, while director DJ Caruso was adamant that the aliens were supposed to look just like regular humans, hence why they’re able to fit in. This was apparently such a sticking point that neither would budge, and Copley left the project." Wow. Make what you will of that.
8 Comments
1
wow, thats pretty crazy. i would rather see copley in the role, especially since i did like district 9 a lot and his a team role looks pretty decent. well, i'll jus hold my tongue until i see footage or a trailer of some sort before i have an opinion about the movie.
KING on May 12, 2010
2
Olyphant is such an underrated actor it's always great to see him get some decent roles. Copley has been good so far and I like him as an actor but Olyphant is better in my opinion. Watch some Deadwood and his new show Justified he's freakin awesome. p.s. I know I sound like it but I'm not gay.
CLAW on May 12, 2010
3
I agree Olyphant is underrated and Justified is a great show all around (Walton Goggins is even more underrated). I think he'd be better off playing the alien tho. Charming as he is, there is still an air of wierdness (for lack of a better term) about Olyphant. One step to the left and he'll easily go from quirky to just pain ODD. Like Tony Shaloub: take Monk one step the wrong way and you got Jack Jeebes.
Akirakorn on May 12, 2010
4
Glad Im not the only one who thinks Olyphant is one of the most underrated actors right now, Justified is actually my new favorite show. I think his performance in Hitman turned a lot of people off of him, but it was the direction and the script that killed that movie. Really hope he gets more roles. That update is pretty damn weird though it almost sounds like a bs rumor.
Cody w on May 12, 2010
5
Olyphant is a great replacement, the man can act. 'nuff said.
Xerxex on May 12, 2010
6
Damnit I was just about to come on here and show my love for Sharlto but then I saw that update. I sure hope that is false, what a stupid move on Copley's part.
Sharlto on May 12, 2010
7
Olyphant is great. The plot sounds interesting,
blum on May 13, 2010
8
I was reading the description above and if anyone is still wondering about the plot of the film, it's based on a book which just recently came out, called "I am Number Four," by Pittacus Lore. I work in a book store and discovered it last week when it came in with our delivery. I'm reading it now, although I'm not very far into it, but I'm really looking forward to seeing the movie. I'll give a quick little description to give you the idea: the story is about a bunch of kids, nine of them, I believe, who are sent to Earth after their planet is attacked. As they age they gradually begin to develop special abilities,(apparently all the fictional superheroes are based on these kids). I'm not sure yet what the bad guys are, I assume another kind of alien, but anyway..these bad guys are hunting the kids all over the planet. Each of the kids has a number, 1 through 9, and they must be killed in order for the bad dudes to get whatever it is they're after (you can tell I'm not far into this yet, huh? ^_^ ). The kids and their guardians all stay away from each other to make it harder for them to be discovered. However, they're all linked and when one of them is killed a scar immediately forms onto the skin of the others' ankles. The book opens when the third scar appears on the ankle of number four and so far, the story is following him and his guardian as they try to avoid being found and killed. So...basically....it sounds frickin' awesome. 🙂 I have high hopes for the film and the book. 🙂
Nymphodora on Aug 4, 2010
New comments are no longer allowed on this post.
FEATURED POSTS
FOLLOW FS HERE
Follow Alex's main account on Twitter:
Add our posts to your Feedly › click here
Get all the news sent on Telegram 
LATEST TO WATCH