Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, James Franco and Cate Blanchett were previously lined up for Noah Baumbach next project While We're Young. Unpredicted scheduling issues prevented Gerwig from committing, and Just Jared reports that Franco and Blanchett have quit too.
Filming on “While We're Young” was set to begin in New York in June, but Franco will be busy due to the scheduling clash with Sam Raimi's Oz, the Great and Powerful in which he stars. Blanchett's motivation is not specified, she pulled out after Franco's departure but it possible has something to do with the production of The Hobbit, which starts filming later this month.
Comedian-actor Ben Stiller is still attached to the project and this isn't the first time Baumbach has had in a hurry to complete cast list; “Greenberg” was originally set to star Mark Ruffalo and Amy Adams before Stiller and Greta Gerwig took the roles. Not to forget, Baumbach has a unique comedic approach and his filmography includes the critically acclaimed movies such as Kicking and Screaming, Highball, Mr. Jealousy, The Squid and the Whale, Margot at the Wedding as well as “Greenberg.”
Baumbach also penned the script for “While We're Young.” His long-time colleague Scott Rudin (“Greenberg,” Fantastic Mr. Fox) will be producing the project and Focus Features will deal with the distribution.
The film is about a free-spirited Booklynite twenty-something pair who inspires a tense documentarian and his wife to get into the swing — with comedic consequences.
If “While We're Young” does for some reason brake down, Baumbach has The Emperor's Children and a producer's role on Squirrel to the Nuts to keep him busy. Stiller is currently filming Tower Heist with Eddie Murphy. Franco has many 2011 projects in addition to Oz — Your Highness (April 8 ) and Rise of the Apes (November 11). And Blanchett will be seen in Hanna (April 8).
It will be worthy of note if this talent emigration negatively affects the flick. Does anyone else share this opinion?
Cate Blanchett
