If your part calls for an actor in their 40s or 50s, and you’re part of a big studio movie, the reality is that the same handful of names are always going to be at the top of your casting wishlist — the Cruises, the Clooneys, the Pitts, the Hankses, the Depps. These are the guys who get every offer in town, and as such, those actors get to pick and choose from the cream of the crop.
And so it seemed to be with “Your Voice In My Head,” the first film from director David Yates after he wrapped up the “Harry Potter” franchise, of which he directed the last four installments. The project is an adaptation of the memoir by Emma Forrest (who we named one of our screenwriters on the rise back in 2010), focusing on her relationship with a terminally ill psychiatrist that she credits with saving her life. When the film was announced, ‘Potter’ star Emma Watson was announced as playing the Forrest surrogate, and Warner Bros were said to be looking at both George Clooney and Tom Hanks to play the psychiatrist: understandable, considering that the role is said to be the kind of part that screams Oscar.
But as it turns out, neither got the part: according to Variety, it’s gone to a much-beloved character actor who’s only gotten to lead pictures when he’s directed himself, namely Stanley Tucci, star of “Big Night,” “The Devil Wears Prada,” “Julie & Julia” and, most recently, “The Hunger Games.” According to the trade, Tucci is now in negotations to join Watson, and despite the big names attached, we imagine Yates used his kudos from his multi-billion dollar grossing franchise to get the man he wanted — having read Forrest’s excellent source material, we reckon that Tucci is pitch-perfect casting for the part.
The actor has only been nominated for an Academy Award once before, for Peter Jackson’s “The Lovely Bones,” but Warners allegedly sees the project as a major contender for the 2013 awards season: could we see Tucci picking up his first Best Actor nod, and even the prize itself? We’re obviously a long way off, but we’re delighted to see one of our favorite character actors get such a prestigious role. Filming will get underway in the summer, and it’ll likely see a release late next year.
