The long, long, long gestating new version of **A Star Is Born **appears to be dragging another male name into its casting gravity as Warners is looking once more at potential leads and is pondering Gerard Butler.
According to the LA Times, he’s only one name on a lengthy list of possibilities, but given his ability to make some distinctly whiffy movies earn decent box office thanks to his manly charms (cough The Bounty Hunter cough), he’s apparently a front-runner.
**A Star Is Born **is almost the Doctor Who of behind-the-scenes drama films – it changes a little with each variation, focusing on either a washed up singer coaching a young newcomer into the business or an older movie star helping a showgirl with her first steps on stage. Either way, friendship and romance blossom, but the male side of the story struggles with alcoholism and other demons.
The likes of James Mason and Kris Kristofferson have played the role before to great acclaim and most recently it was thought that Russell Crowe would be the man to help Beyonce with her career. But with no offer in sight, Crowe remains more rumour than real possibility. And while Warners refuses to count him out (he’s still a bigger star than the likes of Butler), the studio is trying to get the thing made sometime this century.
Nick Cassavetes is still attached to direct.