We’ve heard of being coy and being evasive but this is on a bit of a different level. On the red carpet at the Oscars over the weekend MTV asked awesomely-coiffed producer Brian Grazer about Javier Bardem — who was offered the lead in “The Dark Tower” in January — and whether or not he was going to be in the film. “He’s locked in psychologically,” Grazer said. “He really wants to do it, so we’re absolutely rooting for him to do it.”
So what does this actually mean? Well, it means he’s probably interested but nothing is official, though it certainly seems Grazer wants him badly. “Javier Bardem, that’s what we’re hoping. We’re in the process of trying to put that together,” Grazer said adding, when asked about other potential contenders, “We’re really just focused on Javier right now.”
The Akiva Goldsman penned and Ron Howard directed project is a big commitment as Stephen King‘s story will be spread out across three films and a television series to pack in the full story. Likely, Bardem is weighing his options as he’s also been circling another major franchise, “James Bond 23,” with Sam Mendes apparently offering him a juicy villain role. Even though Bond is due in 2012 and ‘Dark Tower’ in 2013, we could see the productions overlapping as one ends and the other starts, and that too might cause an issue. So, some big options for Bardem right now and the actor is big on receiving a script first and we’d guess that before he signs anything, he wants something from Goldsman to give a glance at.
But, seriously, “locked in psychologically”? That sounds like a phrase from the terrestrial realm of our favorite warlock with flaming fists, Charlie Sheen.
