If Pam Grier and David O. Russell work together, it will be tailor-made for the actress’ talents and not a simple cameo. In a new interview with EW, Greier said she turned down Russell’s offer to write her a small role in “Amsterdam” after another project with the director fell through. And the actress also explained why that series project with Russell never happened. Short answer? It imploded after the allegations against Harvey Weinstein broke in 2017.
Grier didn’t want just a bit part in Russell’s latest film. “He said, ‘I’ll write something for you in “Amsterdam.” I’ll give you the best dialogue,'” the actress told EW. “I said, ‘Nope. I don’t want just screen time. It’s not a consolation prize. I want it thought through. I want it to have a purpose and a place.'” One wonders where Grier would have fit amongst the swollen ensemble cast of “Amsterdam,” which features supporting roles from Andrew Riseborough, Anya Taylor-Joy, Rami Malek, Mike Myers, Timothy Olyphant, Chris Rock, and more.
Also appearing in “Amsterdam” are two actors who were supposed to be part of Russell’s scrapped project with Grier from the mid-2010s: Robert De Niro and Michael Shannon. Also set to star in that series? Julianne Moore. Grier had a major role in the scrapped project as De Niro’s first wife and mother to his two sons. And her role would’ve alluded to Grier’s real life as well. Russell wanted to work in Grier’s therapeutic riding program at her New Mexico ranch in her character’s background. Unfortunately, that series fell apart once the #MeToo movement began. That explains the seven-year gap between “Amsterdam” and Russell’s previous film, “Joy” (but Russell’s various controversies also played a role in that gap, too).
Still, Grier and Russell want to work together someday, but Grier won’t settle for anything that doesn’t consider her talents. “I don’t want to get lost in a group of A-listers,” Grier explained to EW. “I don’t even want to hear that word. It’s demeaning when you call people A-listers — sets are classrooms, these are artisans.” So, don’t rule out Russell developing another project for Grier someday; or maybe even picking up that nixed project with Grier and De Niro again. Wouldn’t it be wild to see that team-up again, over twenty-five years later?
