“I talked about that for a while with Warner Brothers’ people, and we’re still playing with that idea," Clint Eastwood told The Hollywood Reporter earlier this month about the long, long gestating remake of "A Star Is Born" he was once slated to direct. "But the problem at the beginning [was] they were more infatuated with just the idea of the casting. They were talking about having Beyoncé in it, and she was very popular, but she also is very active and it’s hard to get a time scheduled, so we never could get that worked out. But I’m still playing with the idea. Then also I’ve got one other thing I’m looking at that’s interesting.” Well, Eastwood has moved on, but his "American Sniper" star is subbing in instead.
Deadline reports that Bradley Cooper is in negotiations to direct "A Star Is Born," and he may possibly star as well, with the studio still hoping they can land Beyoncé in the lead role. Quick history lesson: The story of a wide-eyed girl dreaming of stardom, who finds a helping hand from a washed out, alcoholic older leading man, was first made by William Wellman in 1937, and became a sensation with the 1954 musical version starring Judy Garland and directed by George Cukor. It was then given another kick in 1976, with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. Will Fetters ("Remember Me," "The Lucky One") penned the most recent draft of the script, which Cooper will do a pass on.
For years, names like Leonardo DiCaprio, Will Smith, Robert Downey Jr., Jon Hamm, Russell Crowe, and Christian Bale have been mentioned for the movie, with Cooper being the most recent. Given his rising status, it’s no shock that he’s managed to stick to it, particularly with the promise of directing.
It should be noted that Beyoncé hasn’t formally been approached and that Cooper also has his hands on "Honeymoon With Harry" as another potential directorial vehicle. Both projects have spent a long time developing, but you can bet WB will put all their attention on this, especially if they can land Bey.