We have to say, for a remake of a fairly dated 1980s comedy, the “Arthur” reboot keeps doing its damnedest to keep our interest piqued. The production scored a coup in snagging Helen Mirren to play the role of butler to Russell Brand’s sex and drink driven aristocratic vagabond. That notched our interest. But now that Greta Gerwig is in talks to join the film as the love interest that causes Arthur to choose between his heart and millions of dollars, you can consider us on board.
Deadline reports that Gerwig will be “playing the charismatic shoplifter who tempts a lovable drunk to consider throwing away an arranged marriage to an heiress–and risking his trust fund–to take a chance on a woman who makes him feel alive.” The draft of the script we read, dated October 2009, had the character named Naomi and she was a tour guide. Perhaps the script has undergone some rewrites since then?
The film is being directed by Jason Winer, the director and co-creator of the excellent ABC sitcom “Modern Family,” and is based on a script by “Borat” writer Peter Baynham (which, again, may have been written by Baynham or somebody else entirely). No word official word yet on when production will start, but with casting getting firmed up, a summer shoot doesn’t seem unreasonable.