Casting Bits: Lindsay Lohan Drops Out Of ‘Gotti,’ Then Is Recast; Jacki Weaver In ‘Five Year Engagement;’ Jake Johnson In ‘21 Jump Street’
OK, this is getting ridiculous. The latest bit of news on the John Gotti biopic front (Gotti: Three Generationsjust lostNick Cassavetesas director earlier this week) is thatLindsay Lohanis no longer in consideration to play Victoria Gotti. Producer Marc Fiore toldPeoplethat talks with her reps had stopped, but didn’t offer much by way of explanation. That seems to be the way it goes with Lindsay Lohan these days.
More to the point, how things seem to go with her these days is ‘crazy,’ and the story has already taken another turn. Just as I was about to publish this,TMZcomes out with the report that Lindsay Lohan is in the film after all, but now playing John Gotti Jr.’s daughter-in-law Kim, rather than Victoria Gotti. A smaller part? Probably. The report also links her to another movie calledMob Street. There are reports of reconciliation between her and producers, and, well, let’s see how long this lasts.
After the break, Jacki Weaver goes comic and21 Jump Streetadds another.
Jacki Weaver, so scary/intense as a crime family matriarch inAnimal Kingdomthat she earned an Oscar nomination for the performance, has been added toJason SegelandNicholas Stoller’sFive Year Engagement. The two guys co-wrote the film, in which Jason Segel andEmily Bluntplay a couple taking their time on the way to the altar. Mr. Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall) directs,Judd Apatowproduces, andAlison Brie,Chris Pratt,Rhys IfansandLauren Weedmanco-star. No info on Jacki Weaver’s role, and I can’t decide if I’d more enjoy seeing her channel herAnimal Kingdomcharacter into a full-on comedy, or if I’d like to see her go entirely the other direction. And, in anther last-minute turn,David Paymerhas also been added to the cast, as Jason Segel’s father. [Deadline,Variety]Jake Johnsonis the latest actor to join21 Jump Street. Variety says he’s been cast “as a principal” in the film…though whether that is a principal role, or as a principal in the school that cops played byJonah HillandChanning Tatuminfiltrate as undercover agents remains unclear. As we’ve reported dozens of times before,Ice Cube,Brie Larson,Rob Riggle,DeRay David, andDave Francoare also in the action/comedy andCloudy with a Chance of Meatballswriters/directorsPhil LordandChris Millerare shortly to direct the movie. [Variety]
