Update2 : So Variety‘s confirms that Jackman signed on. We guess our skepticism here was unwarranted. Read on…
Ok, we like Vulture a lot, but we gotta do a bit of bus throwing here.
The publications first reported that Jim Carrey and Kate Hudson were in talks to take roles in Jennifer Garner’s “Butter” which now boasts an outrageously good all-star cast that includes Garner herself, Olivia Wilde, Alicia Silverstone, Rob Corddry, Ashley Greene, Ty Burrell and Yara Shahidi.
However, both Jim Carrey and Hudson both didn’t end up taking roles in the film (which is sometimes the problem with reporting circling/offer stories), so are we to believe their latest report that says Hugh Jackman might step into the role?
Sure, but we’ll look at it cautiously. Shooting on the comedy, a butter-sculpting political satire penned by Jason A. Micallef (and yes, it was near the top of the 2008 Blacklist), begins next week in Louisiana. But Jackman also has a role in Lee Daniels’ civil rights drama, “Selma” which shoots in May (which is two weeks away). If it’s late or mid-May maybe he can wing it? Afterall Jackman has been on a tear this year and has already shot an appearance in Wayne Wang’s upcoming “Snow Flower & The Secret Fan.”
Another larger complication might be “Avon Man,” a comedy that Jackman has been shooting this month. Actors can do two-three weeks on one film and then jump right into another consecutive few weeks and so forth, but we wouldn’t be surprised if a) Jackman is interested, but b) his agent and producers are trying to figure out if he can actually swing it.
The quasi-political satire — reportedly an analogy for the 2008 Democratic primaries — will be directed by Brit Jim Field Smith (“She’s Out Of My League”) and follows the story of Laura (Garner, an executive producer on the project), the wife of a former butter sculpting champion Bob (Burrell) who tries to take the mantle from her husband only to be thwarted by a young adopted African American girl (Shahidi), who has discovered that she has a natural talent for making art from out of butter. Burrell’s character is engaging in an extra-marital affair with a stripper played by Wilde’s character.
Jackman is reportedly set to play the sleazy car dealer who seduces Garner in the script (presumably the role Carrey didn’t take). But again, will he be able to juggle that schedule? So yes, he’s in talks, but as we all know, talks sometimes go nowhere. That said, we’re excited for this film and he’d be a welcome edition. Just manage your expectations thusly.