True Grit (2010)

[MacGuffin]

Coen brothers to adapt 'True Grit'
New version will stay faithful to Portis' novel
Source: Variety

As their next film, Joel and Ethan Coen will put their spin on "True Grit," the iconic Western that won John Wayne an Oscar.

Not a traditional remake, the Paramount film will be more faithful to the Charles Portis book than the 1969 pic, also distributed by Par.

Portis' novel is about a 14-year-old girl who, along with an aging U.S. marshal and another lawman, tracks her father's killer in hostile Indian territory.

But while the original film was a showcase for Wayne, the Coens' version will tell the tale from the girl's p.o.v.

Pic will be their first period Oater.

Project reteams the brothers with Scott Rudin, their partner on the Oscar-winning "No Country for Old Men." The Coens wrote the screenplay.

The original starred Kim Darby as the teen, Wayne and Glen Campbell as the lawmen, Jeff Corey as the killer and featured Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper as fellow outlaws.

"True Grit" originated at DreamWorks when that company was Par-based, but it was one of the projects that Stacey Snider and Steven Spielberg left behind since the original is part of the Paramount film library. Former DreamWorks prexy Adam Goodman, now a Par exec, is steering the project for the studio.

The Western steps in front of another novel adaptation the Coens have with Rudin: "The Yiddish Policemen's Union," based on the Michael Chabon novel and set up at Columbia.

The Coens just completed "A Serious Man," which they scripted, for Focus Features and Working Title.

[SiliasRuby]

Hmmmmmm.

[MacGuffin]

The Dude in True Grit Talks
By: Mike Fleming; Variety

In what is shaping up as a potential "Big Lebowski" reunion, Jeff Bridges is in discussions with Paramount to star for Joel and Ethan Coen in "True Grit," playing the role that won John Wayne an Oscar in the 1969 film. 

Bridges, who last worked with the Coens when he turned in a heralded performance as Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski, is in talks to play the lead role in the iconic Western that the Coens are mounting as their next project. 

The picture, which also reunited the Coens with their "No Country for Old Men" producing partner Scott Rudin, has been redrafted by the Coens to be more faithful to the Charles Portis novel that the original film was based on.

In it, a 14 year old girl tags along with an aging U.S. marshal and another lawman to track the outlaw who killed her father. The trail leads them into hostile Indian territory. The original told the story from Cogburn's vantage point, but the new version will work from the viewpoint of the young girl. Kim Darby played the young girl in the original, and Glen Campbell played the other lawman.

The Coens premiere "A Serious Man" at the Toronto Film Festival. Bridges most recently starred in "The Men Who Stare At Goats" and reprised in "Tron Legacy."

[Stefen]

Jeff Bridges is the fucking man.

[Fernando]

this sounds promising, and the casting of that 14yo girl is key, as long as they don't change the age by casting punchable face...

[modage]

no more remakes!

[Stefen]

Ladykillers was one of the worst movies ever made. EVER,

[MacGuffin]

The Coens Talk True Grit
Source: Edward Douglas, ComingSoon

The Coen Brothers, Joel and Ethan, have gained an entirely new level of respect and appreciation as filmmakers over the last few years thanks to their Oscar-winning adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men and last year's box office hit Burn After Reading. Having their names attached to a movie called True Grit has gotten a lot of interest because the 1969 John Wayne movie of the same name is a popular Western. In fact, the Coens have decided to go back to the Charles Portis novel of the same name to create their own movie based on it.

ComingSoon.net had a chance to interview the Coens with a small group of journalists for their new movie A Serious Man and eventually, they were asked about the Western.

"We did see it as kids. I don't know if Joel's seen it since," Ethan said once the movie was mentioned. "It made very little impression on me, the movie. We subsequently both read the book and the book made a huge impression and I guess that's kind of why we're interested in doing the movie."

"It's not a great movie but it is a great book actually," his brother continued.

"It's not really a remake, it's an adaptation," Ethan admitted to which Joel added, "Yeah, we were trying to figure out what it was the other day, too. What do you call it?"

They're hoping that this project will be next although they're not sure and are hoping that it will get done in the spring.

Despite there having been word out of Toronto that Jeff Bridges aka "The Dude" from The Big Lebowski was the frontrunner for the John Wayne role in the new movie, the brothers remained coy about confirming that, merely saying, "We're talking to somebody."

Look for our full interview with the Coens plus an exclusive interview with the stars of their new movie A Serious Man closer to the film's limited release on October 2.

[MacGuffin]

Damon, Brolin Have "True Grit" for Coens
Source: Variety

Matt Damon and Josh Brolin are in discussions with Joel and Ethan Coen to join Jeff Bridges in "True Grit," the re-imagining of the iconic 1969 Western that Paramount Pictures will put into production next March for late 2010 release. 

The Coens, who previously attached their "Big Lebowski" star Bridges to play U.S. marshal Rooster Cogburn, are in talks with Damon to play the lawman (played by Glen Campbell in the original) who teams with Cogburn and a 14-year old girl to track her father's killer into hostile Indian territory.

In a turnabout, Brolin is in talks to play the killer. The actor's recent rise was greatly helped playing the good guy in the Coens' Oscar-winning contemporary Western "No Country for Old Men." Jeff Corey played the killer in the original, and Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper also played outlaws.

They haven't yet cast the young girl.

The Coens are producing with Scott Rudin and Steven Spielberg. The Coens wrote a script which is more faithful to the Charles Portis novel that inspired the original. 

Though their current pic "A Serious Man" isn't chock full of stars, the Coens continue to draw top actors who want to work in their films.

Damon just wrapped the Clint Eastwood-directed "Invictus" and is shooting the George Nolfi-directed "The Adjustment Bureau." He's also set to re-team with Eastwood in "Hereafter." Brolin is shooting the Oliver Stone-directed "Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps," and then will star in the Asger Leth-directed drama "Cartel."

[Gold Trumpet]

OK, that news makes even a Coens cynic like me excited.

[MacGuffin]

Coens' 'True Grit' to bow Christmas Day
But Par takes 'Footloose' off release calendar
Source: Variety

Paramount Pictures will release Joel and Ethan Coen's remake "True Grit" on Christmas Day.

At the same time, Par has taken "Footloose," which was to open June 18, off the release calendar. Remake hit a major roadblock when Kenny Ortega dropped out as director, reportedly over creative differences. True Grit's" high-profile release date positions the film for an awards run and allows the pic to capitalize on the holiday frame.

Remake stars Jeff Bridges as U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn, the character made famous by John Wayne. Matt Damon also stars, playing the lawman who teams with Cogburn.

[RegularKarate]

They're shooting this in and around Austin.  Extra casting is going on right now.  They're asking for real looking people (no implants or plastic surgery) with facial hair and long hair (ladies and fellas).

[Pozer]

grit yerself over there. truly.

[Ravi]

They're shooting this in and around Austin.  Extra casting is going on right now.  They're asking for real looking people (no implants or plastic surgery) with facial hair and long hair (ladies and fellas).

That sounds like you, RK (except for the "ladies" part)

[polkablues]

Bet your regretting those breast implants now, aren't you?