The Wrestler

[MacGuffin]

Cage makes some moves on 'Wrestler'
Source: Hollywood Reporter

NEW YORK -- Nicolas Cage is in talks to star in screenwriter Robert Siegel's indie drama "The Wrestler."

The film, now in development at Darren Aronofsky's Protozoa Pictures, centers on Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a 1980s-era star pro wrestler who has become a burnt-out shell of his former self. After he has a heart attack during a small-time match, a doctor tells him he could die if he fights again.

In an effort to build a new life, Robinson takes a job at a deli, moves in with an aging stripper and tries to build a relationship with her son. But the prospect of a rematch with his old nemesis the Ayatollah proves too tempting to resist, even if it means risking his life.

Brooklyn-based Protozoa, named after Aronofsky's 1993 short, has been behind all of the director's features, including "Pi," "Requiem for a Dream" and "The Fountain." The possibility of Aronofsky directing could not be confirmed at press time, and it's unclear if Cage's Saturn Films will jump on board to produce as well.

Cage next stars in "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," the sequel to his hit 2004 film. He's repped by CAA and Bloom Hergott Diemer.

[Pubrick]

The Wrestler-palooza

[Gold Trumpet]

In an effort to build a new life, Robinson takes a job at a deli, moves in with an aging stripper and tries to build a relationship with her son. But the prospect of a rematch with his old nemesis the Ayatollah proves too tempting to resist, even if it means risking his life.

That's the dumbest plot I've ever heard. Not only stupid, but completely inaccurate to the movitations and lifestyles of most professional wrestlers.

[grand theft sparrow]

Pretty damn powerful.  A little fruity but I guess they know what they're doing.  We need more heart in pictures...

We're all expecting great things!

[Gamblour.]

That's probably what this was all about.

Monday, October 1, 2007
OCTOBER 1

Ok so the summer is really gone. The skies are gray over manhattan. It's depressing how quick these seasons fly by. I remember as a kid, they seemed to take forever. There was an infinite reality within a single august month back when I was a kid. Now it's four weekends and it's done. Whine Whine Whine. I know.

We are a week or so from telling all what is next. And guess what, nothing that you've seen on-line or anywhere is accurate. The new project has made no ripples in the press and I like it that way. We start shooting January and I am presently pulling together the team.

Pre-production should begin in the next few days. I will be casting the smaller roles hopefully in the next two weeks.

I plan to write here more once all my cards are on the table, so keep visiting.

http://darrenaronofsky.blogspot.com

[MacGuffin]

DARREN ARONOFSKY = BARTON FINK?
Source: CHUD

It's been known that Darren Aronofsky's production company, Protozoa Pictures, had Robert Siegal's script The Wrestler. But it's only as of yesterday that we know Aronofsky is actually in talks to direct.

This'll make half of a matched salt and pepper shaker set with The Fighter, the story of boxer Irish Mickey Ward, which Aronofsky also still slated to direct, though The Wrestler's start date is currently January 7 which means the fantastic director's next film will be...a Nic Cage picture. Can we just change Cage's name to Wallace Beery for the sake of this article?

The script recap: Cage is Randy "The Ram" Robinson, a burnt-out pro wrestler. He suffers a coronary, retires from the ring, works at a deli, marries a stripper and generally lives the American Dream, only out of tights instead of in them. Then the chance comes to square off again with his wrestling nemesis The Ayatollah, so back to the ring he goes.

This isn't such an odd development. Aronofsky needs to make a picture or two that is relatively inexpensive and stands to make back a few bucks. I'm sure no one is more conscious than him of the fact that, as wonderful a film as The Fountain is, making that movie again (or the Biblical epic we know he'd like to do in the future) isn't possible right now.

Several people have floated the notion that the hasty strike atmosphere might actually make for a couple of interesting pairings where a director could end up with unlikely material, and this seems like one of those deals. Here's hoping that Aronofsky won't end up sitting on a beach with a mysterious box at his feet, terminally bogged down in a movie he doesn't have any ties to; I'd love to see him kill with both these pictures, then hit the ground running afterwards to tackle a project that's near and dear to him.

[modage]

i don't like him directing this if he didn't write it.

[Neil]

DARREN ARONOFSKY = BARTON FINK?
Source: CHUD
This'll make half of a matched salt and pepper shaker set with The Fighter, the story of boxer Irish Mickey Ward, which Aronofsky also still slated to direct, though The Wrestler's start date is currently January 7 which means the fantastic director's next film will be...a Nic Cage picture.

what the hell does this mean?

[72teeth]

DARREN ARONOFSKY = BARTON FINK?
Source: CHUD
This'll make half of a matched salt and pepper shaker set with The Fighter, the story of boxer Irish Mickey Ward, which Aronofsky also still slated to direct, though The Wrestler's start date is currently January 7 which means the fantastic director's next film will be...a Nic Cage picture.

what the hell does this mean?

...that he's silly looking.

[grand theft sparrow]

DARREN ARONOFSKY = BARTON FINK?

what the hell does this mean?

It means that I was 8 days ahead of them.

Pretty damn powerful.  A little fruity but I guess they know what they're doing.  We need more heart in pictures...

We're all expecting great things!

[MacGuffin]

Mickey Rourke wires 'Wrestler'
Aronofsky is directing indie drama
Source: Variety

Mickey Rourke is getting into the ring with "The Wrestler," the indie drama that Darren Aronofsky will direct in January.

Rourke will play Randy "The Ram" Robinson," a role that Nicolas Cage had reportedly been set to play. There was no word Sunday as to why he had left the project.

Aronofsky and Robert Siegel wrote the script for "The Wrestler," about an over-the-hill grappler who returns to the ring for one last shot at glory.

Rourke, who once took time away from his screen career to become a boxer, has been enjoying a film resurgence that began with "Man on Fire" and "Sin City." He wrapped the John Madden-directed "Killshot," and is currently starring in the ensemble of "The Informers," a Gregor Jordan-directed adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel.

[Pwaybloe]

Mickey Rourke wires 'Wrestler'
...and is currently starring in the ensemble of "The Informers," a Gregor Jordan-directed adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel.

Whaat? How did this fly under the radar?

[ElPandaRoyal]

Mickey Rourke wires 'Wrestler'
...and is currently starring in the ensemble of "The Informers," a Gregor Jordan-directed adaptation of the Bret Easton Ellis novel.

Whaat? How did this fly under the radar?

I knew about this when I searched Ellis on IMDB last week, but didn't realize it was currently being shot. It was my first Ellis read (after having seen both American Psycho and The Rules of Attraction) and I love it, of course.

[MacGuffin]

First Pic of Mickey Rourke from Aronofsky's 'The Wrestler'
Source: Cinematical

I don't know about you, but after looking at this pic I have the sudden urge to yell "MICKEYYYYY!" Yes, that is the first image of Mickey Rourke from Darren Aronofsky's (Requiem for a Dream) upcoming flick, The Wrestler. Apparently, Aronofsky and crew were in New Jersey last weekend shooting scenes during a live WXW match. I believe the dude standing next to Rourke (who, in case you were wondering, is the shirtless guy with the Fabio cut) is WWE's Afa the Wild Samoan, who's also serving as Rourke's trainer.

The WXW site (where this photo was posted) says matches were filmed, as well as several locker room scenes featuring "some of your favorite WXW superstars." This must have been a treat for those fans, and I personally cannot wait to see what Aronofsky does with a wrestling film. Nicolas Cage was originally supposed to star, but Rourke replacing him was fitting -- after all, the film follows a veteran wrestler who fights all odds for one last chance to battle his arch-nemesis. Substitute 'veteran wrestler' for 'veteran actor' and 'arch-nemesis' for the words 'film career' and the role choice makes total sense. JoBlo also says that Marisa Tomei will star as Rourke's girlfriend, an aging stripper -- which was something I did not know, but right on! The Wrestler will most likely hit theaters later this year.

[MacGuffin]

Tomei joins Aronofsky's 'Wrestler'
Actress to star as stripper in 1980s-era drama
Source: Variety

Marisa Tomei has signed on to play the female lead opposite Mickey Rourke in Darren Aronofsky's indie drama "The Wrestler."

Story centers on an over-the-hill 1980s-era pro grappler (Rourke) who quits the business after a heart attack and moves in with a stripper (Tomei) to build a relationship with her son. Aronofsky and Robert Siegel wrote the screenplay.

Shooting is under way in New York and New Jersey.

Tomei, who most recently co-starred in Sidney Lumet's "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead," will segue to the stage after filming "The Wrestler" with a starring role in "Top Girls" on Broadway.