Gerard Butler on 'Motor City' assembly line

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118052058?refCatId=13


Gerard Butler on 'Motor City' assembly line
'300' thesp in talks for lead in Albert Hughes' action pic
By Jeff Sneider

After going through a revolving door of leading men, Warner Bros. and Dark Castle are now negotiating with "300" star Gerard Butler to topline Albert Hughes' action pic "Motor City."
Dominic Cooper was originally slated to star before scheduling conflicts forced producers to move on to Jake Gyllenhaal, who had similar issues, prompting producers to turn to Butler.

If a deal makes, Butler would play a felon who, after being released from prison, begins tracking down the men who framed him. Amber Heard and Gary Oldman are already on board to co-star in the Chad St. John-scripted pic.

Joel Silver is producing through his Dark Castle shingle along with Andrew Rona. Ethan Erwin and Doug Urbanski are exec producing.

Butler, who next stars in Millennium Films' "Playing the Field," recently signed on to star in the company's White House-set action pic "Olympus." He's repped by CAA and Alan Siegel Entertainment.

Umm........read this:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/gerard-butler-may-have-finally-ended-the-search-for-a-leading-man-for-motor-city

Gerard Butler May Have Finally Ended The Search For A Leading Man For 'Motor City'

Let it be over, for the love of god. After cycling through Chris Evans, Dominic Cooper, Jake Gyllenhaal and Jeremy Renner, it looks like Albert Hughes may have finally found his leading man for "Motor City."

Variety reports that hunky slab of beef and hair Gerard Butler is now negotiating for the lead role in the thriller, which will see Amber Heard hang off his arm, and Gary Oldman square off with him as the villain. Penned by Chad St. John, the hotly buzzed-about 2009 Black List script follows a small-time crook who is framed and sent to jail, and then goes after the guys that put him there. Best of all? No lines to memorize. Apparently the protagonist only has one line in the whole movie, so basically all Butler will have to do is show up and make sure he hits his marks. Easy breezy.

Production is gearing up to start this spring, and let's hope this is the last we hear of it until the movie is wrapped.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/motor-city-gerard-butler-casting_n_1389553.html#s826092&title=Gerard_Butler


'Motor City': Gerard Butler Latest Actor Attached To Thriller; Brief History Of Casting Process
The Huffington Post | By Christopher Rosen Posted: 03/29/2012

"Motor City," the thriller from director Albert Hughes about a recently released felon out for revenge, has been passed around between some of Hollywood's best mid-level stars like a hot potato. The latest actor attached to the 2009 Black List screenplay from Chad St. John? Gerard Butler, who is currently negotiating for the chance to say one line of dialogue in the film. That's right: "Motor City" is notable for its incredibly laconic lead character, something that separates the film from its seemingly B-movie roots.

Since you can't tell a project without a scorecard, ahead enjoy a brief history of the casting process for "Motor City"



Chris Evans

On Aug. 2, 2011, Twitch Film reported that Chris Evans was attached to the film, with Albert Hughes set to direct. Hughes had previously been in line to helm the Warner Bros. reboot of "Akira," but that project never came to fruition. Evans was riding high on the grosses of "Captain America: First Avenger."

Dominic Cooper

By the time November of 2011 rolled around, Evans was already off the project; his "Captain America" co-star Dominic Cooper was set for the lead role, with Amber Heard playing his onscreen sister. Shooting for "Motor City," with Cooper and Heard, was potentially scheduled for early 2012.

Jake Gyllenhaal

Hope you didn't get too comfortable with the idea of Dominic Cooper leading "Motor City"! By March 7 of this year, Maggie's brother -- last seen in "Source Code" -- was negotiating for a chance to say one line of dialogue. Hughes was still set as director.

Jeremy Renner

About Gyllenhaal: one week later, on March 14, Twitch reported that Jeremy Renner was negotiating for the part. Hope Team "Motor City" didn't get Jake a personalized swag jacket!

Gerard Butler

And then there was one? Butler just started negotiating on Thursday for the chance to star in "Motor City." Heard is still attached, along with Gary Oldman. Check back in a month to see if Butler is still onboard.

The one line thing sounds intriguing. It could go either way, I guess. It's certainly a change of pace from the standard fare. I wonder if this has anything to do with the success of The Artist? The whole silent film idea as a new medium? They don't say just how much dialogue the other actors would have.

I disagree with that article author's assessment that having only one line makes for an "easy breezy" part though. It seems to me that gives an actor an even bigger challenge in some ways. He would have to rely solely on the way he carries himself and emotes, etc. for the most part. We all know Gerry likes a challenge and trying new things.