Mia Wasikowska Out, Rooney Mara In For Todd Haynes' 'Carol'

Rooney Mara

Good things come to those who wait, they say, and certainly we’ve been patient about “Carol.” The project was first announced over a year ago with an excellent pair of leads in Cate Blanchett and Mia Wasikowska, with John Crowley (“Boy A,” “Closed Circuit“) directing. The stakes were raised further when Todd Haynes replaced Crowley in the director’s chair earlier this spring. And even though production is still a bit of a way off, it looks like there will be a change in the topline duo.

Mia Wasikowska has stepped out and Rooney Mara has stepped into her place on the project. And frankly, that’s one great young actress for another, so we have no complaints. An adaptation of Patricia Highsmith‘s “Carol” (also known as “The Price Of Salt“), penned by Phyllis Nagy (“Mrs. Harris“), the ’50s New York-set tale follows the story of two women—one a 20-something girl working in a department store while harbouring bigger dreams, the other a middle-aged wife trapped in a money-driven, loveless marriage—and the relationship that brews between the two.

Sounds like an electric little premise, and we’re eager to see the sparks fly between Blanchett and Mara. Filming won’t start until next spring however, so our patience will have to continue to hold. As for the recently announced Haynes project “Act Of God” with Christian Bale, there’s no word yet on when that will roll, but presumably it’ll have to wait until the actor is done parting the Red Sea for Ridley Scott in “Exodus,” which starts shooting soon. [Screen Daily]