Gerard Butler takes a shine to 'Brilliant'

Isn't Hunter Killer (that Avatar-type graphic movie with Matthew McC. and Sam Worthington) supposed to start filming in Baton Rouge in May? I thought I read that....?

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118050879

Gerard Butler takes a shine to 'Brilliant'
Replaces Eric Bana in diamond-heist thriller
By Jeff Sneider


Gerard Butler is set to star in Lakeshore Entertainment's diamond-heist thriller "Brilliant," which will reunite him with helmer Robert Luketic, who directed the Scottish thesp in "The Ugly Truth."
Butler replaces Eric Bana, who was in negotiations to topline the pic as of September 2011.

First-time scribe Gillian Gorfil wrote the script, which follows a small-time criminal who partners with a female thief to pull off a daring diamond heist.

Sidney Kimmel, Gary Lucchesi and Tom Rosenberg will produce with Gorfil ("Blood Diamond"). The quartet is still searching for a female lead before the pic starts production this May in Boston.

Butler, who's coming off dramatic turns in Marc Forster's "Machine Gun Preacher" and Ralph Fiennes' "Coriolanus," is prepping for a busy year. In addition to a role in Relativity's omnibus comedy "Movie 43," he toplines Curtis Hanson's surfing pic "Of Men and Mavericks" and Gabriele Muccino's romantic sports pic "Playing the Field." He's also attached to star in two action pics -- Antoine Fuqua's "Hunter Killer" and Simon West's "Thunder Run."

Butler is repped by CAA and Alan Siegel Entertainment.

Contact Jeff Sneider at jeff.sneider@variety.com

http://collider.com/gerard-butler-brilliant/149134/

Gerard Butler Replaces Eric Bana in Heist Thriller BRILLIANT

A bit of a casting switcheroo is taking place on Robert Luketic’s (21) diamond heist-thriller Brilliant. Variety reports that Gerard Butler is replacing Eric Bana as the star of the film, as Bana apparently bowed out after previously entering negotiations last fall. The story involves a small-time criminal who joins up with polished thieves in order to attempt a diamond heist. The logline isn’t exactly thrilling and Luketic’s filmography includes Legally Blonde and The Ugly Truth, so Bana may have been on to something when he vacated the project. The film may have a more intriguing hook that they’re keeping close to the vest, but its success will probably hinge on who they cast to team up with Butler. Producers are currently looking for a female lead and I sincerely hope Luketic doesn’t feel compelled to pair Butler with Katherine Heigl once again.

The 300 actor has quite a few films on the horizon. He’s already completed the surfing pic Of Men and Mavericks and the romantic sports comedy Playing the Field, and he’s poised to star in Antoine Fuqua’s Hunter Killer, the 3D motion-capture war movie Thunder Run, and a fact-based mercenary pic for director Ridley Scott.

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Gerard-Butler-Replacing-Eric-Bana-Diamond-Heist-Thriller-Brilliant-29720.html


Gerard Butler Replacing Eric Bana In Diamond Heist Thriller


Gerard Butler has been tapped by his Ugly Truth director Robert Luketic to headline Brilliant, a diamond heist thriller that casts Mr. 300 as a small-time crook who must partner with a female criminal to pull off a major diamond heist.

Variety, which reports the casting, mentions that Butler will be replacing Star Trek and Hulk star Eric Bana, who had been attached to the project as recently as September 2011, but now appears ready to play opposite Rebecca Hall (The Town) in John Crowley’s untitled thriller.

And while we pay very little attention to tabloid coverage, it’s common knowledge that Butler spent time recently in rehabilitation, so it’s encouraging that his professional life hasn’t slipped out of gear, and that he’s picking up a project with a director he can trust. Now, here’s what terrifies me: Variety adds that Brilliant producers still need to hire a female lead before production starts this May in Boston. Please don’t let it be Katherine Heigl, setting up the Ugly Truth reunion that nobody’s asking for. It is possible given the fact that when she isn’t making rom-coms, Heigl often leans toward crime-thrillers like Killers or One for the Money.

If Butler hadn’t come clean about his rehab stint, we might not have noticed his absence. He has a number of projects in the pipeline, including the submarine thriller Hunter Killer and the FBI thriller The Bricklayer. He’ll also lend his voice to the How to Train Your Dragon sequel, which is expected to hit theaters in 2014. But before then, he might be boosting diamonds for Luketic, so stay tuned.

http://www.firstshowing.net/2012/gerard-butler-replacing-eric-bana-in-luketics-heist-film-brilliant/

Gerard Butler Replacing Eric Bana in Luketic's Heist Film 'Brilliant'by Ben Pearson

Robert Luketic has spent most of his career directing chick flicks like Legally Blonde, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton, Monster-in-Law, and Killers. But he showed a brief glimpse of what he can do outside that genre with 21, the Vegas card-counting film starring Jim Sturgess, Kate Bosworth and Kevin Spacey. This year, he'll be able to again step outside of romantic comedies with Brilliant, a diamond heist thriller. Last fall, we reported that Eric Bana was in negotiations to play the lead role, but Variety says Bana's negotiations fell through and now Luketic is slated to reunite with The Ugly Truth star Gerard Butler now instead.

The storyline follows a small-time criminal (Butler) who partners with a female thief to pull off a daring diamond heist. Producers are still searching for the female lead, and they only have a few months to track someone down because filming begins in Boston this May. Butler is wasting no time getting back to work after a brief stint in rehab, and it's good to have him back on the right track. With the Boston setting and heist elements, Brilliant is starting to sound a bit like The Town, which could be to the film's benefit. I like the concept, but I'm not sure Luketic is the right guy to be in the director's chair for this one.

http://www.wickedleaked.com/2012/04/butlers-brilliant-in-boston.html

Gerard Butler is set to star in the diamond heist flick "Brilliant" shooting in Boston. The story follows master thief and rich playboy Charlie Beaumont as he recruits a beautiful young cat burglar to help him steal $1 billion dollars worth of diamonds in a daring heist. However, the duo's relationship is fraught with twists and turns. Filming was originally slated for a May start but has since been pushed back to later this year.

[quote="Nay"]http://www.wickedleaked.com/2012/04/butlers-brilliant-in-boston.html

[font=Courier New]Gerard Butler is set to star in the diamond heist flick "Brilliant" shooting in Boston.

I hope this happens. I really think it might be a great vehicle for him.

It certainly sounds kind of promising, Dani B.