Having been through some director and cast changes (Me And Earl And The Dying Girl’s Alfonso Gomez-Rejon and actor Hugh Jackman are among those who were attached but have departed), things may finally be falling into place for Collateral Beauty, which now has David Frankel in talks to direct.
The man who made The Devil Wears Prada and, more recently, Paul Potts biopic One Chance, is looking to take over the drama after Gomez-Rejon left due to creative differences with New Line.
Will Smith is still in the lead role, playing a New York advertising executive who suffers a huge personal tragedy. Allan Loeb’s script follows what happens when his co-workers try an unusual strategy to pull him out of a downward spiral. Rooney Mara was attached to star alongside her Pan co-star Jackman when he was involved, and her name was still mentioned when Smith took over, but she appears to also have stepped off the film.
With the shooting schedule shifted to early next year, Frankel should be in place soon so he can start preparing to work on the film and find the right supporting cast for his star.